High Court Criminal trials workload statistics

High Court - criminal trial case volumes - for the 12 months ending 31 December 2024

Registry   New Business Disposals Total Active
as at 31/12/24
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau 49 58 58
Whangarei Whangārei-terenga-parāoa 15 19 12
Rotorua Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe 21 16 30
Hamilton Kirikiriroa 16 13 14
Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara 15 17 13
Napier Ahuriri 6 4 4
Palmerston North Te Papaioea 11 6 8
Whanganui Whanganui 4 0 4
Gisborne Tūranganui-a-Kiwa 2 2 1
New Plymouth Ngāmotu 5 6 5
Nelson Whakatū 0 2 0
Blenheim Te Waiharakeke 0 0 1
Christchurch Ōtautahi 14 22 14
Timaru Te Tihi-o-Maru 1 4 1
Dunedin Ōtepoti 2 4 2
Invercargill Waihōpai 2 3 3
Greymouth Māwhera 1 1 0
National Total   164 177 170

Definitions

New business

HC criminal trials

New business includes cases arriving in High Court for trial, cases where a retrial has been directed, split cases and cases transferred into the High Court under s 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.

Disposals at completion of sentencing or earlier outcome

HC criminal trials

Disposals are counted at the completion of sentencing, or at an earlier final outcome. Cases are disposed when sentencing or final outcomes are established on all charges, or when all active charges are joined into another case. Disposals are recorded in the categories of: Convicted and Sentenced, Found Not Guilty, Convicted and Discharged, Discharged Section 147, Not Proceeded With, Joined and Other Outcome.

Total active cases - all cases awaiting substantive hearing, verdict/plea, awaiting sentencing or final outcome

HC criminal trials

Active cases are those cases that are proceeding to or awaiting a jury trial, judge-alone trial, sentencing or final outcome.