High Court Criminal trials workload statistics
High Court - criminal trial case volumes - for the 12 months ending 31 December 2025
| Registry | New Business | Disposals | Total Active as at 31/12/25 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau | 38 | 46 | 51 |
| Whangarei | Whangārei-terenga-parāoa | 10 | 9 | 13 |
| Rotorua | Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe | 27 | 22 | 34 |
| Hamilton | Kirikiriroa | 18 | 14 | 17 |
| Wellington | Te Whanganui-a-Tara | 21 | 20 | 15 |
| Napier | Ahuriri | 14 | 12 | 6 |
| Palmerston North | Te Papaioea | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Whanganui | Whanganui | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Gisborne | Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| New Plymouth | Ngāmotu | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Nelson | Whakatū (Jan - Oct) | 2 | 0 | - |
| Blenheim | Te Waiharakeke (Jan - Oct) | 0 | 0 | - |
| Christchurch | Ōtautahi | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Timaru | Te Tihi-o-Maru | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dunedin | Ōtepoti | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Invercargill | Waihōpai | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Greymouth | Māwhera | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nelson | Whakatū (Nov - Dec) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Blenheim | Te Waiharakeke (Nov - Dec) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| National Total | 162 | 158 | 173 |
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 and s 86Q of the Sentencing Act 2002 (3rd strike cases).
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.