District Courts of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The District Courts of New Zealand (Māori: Ngā Kōti ā Rōhe) are low-level trial courts in New Zealand. The District Courts can hear civil claims up to $200,000 ($500,000 if recovery of land is claimed) and criminal cases involving relatively minor offences. There are 66 District Courts throughout New Zealand and the vast majority of both civil and criminal actions in New Zealand are commenced in a District Court. The District Courts are governed by the District Courts Act 1947.
The District Courts were established in 1980 to replace Magistrates Courts, which had dealt with minor criminal matters and civil claims since 1893. The establishment of the District Courts was the result of the recommendations made in the 1978 Royal Commission on the Courts. report. District Courts were given an expanded jurisdiction and the Family Court was created as a division of the District Court in 1981.
The Youth Court is another specialist division of the District Court, dealing with people under the age of 17 who have been charged with criminal offending.
Today there are 66 District Courts located throughout New Zealand. In 2011, the New Zealand Attorney-General stated that the District Court was "the largest court in Australasia". The larger District Courts operate on a daily basis, while others may only operate on a weekly or monthly basis, usually being serviced by Judges from larger centres.
The District Courts criminal jurisdiction is busier and arguably broader than any other Court. Over 95% of all criminal trials, including jury trials on all but the most serious matters are heard in the District Court. Within its jurisdiction are offences ranging from very serious offending such as rape, aggravated robbery, and sexual violation down to minor offences such as disorderly behaviour. The only charges that cannot be heard by the District Court are murder, manslaughter and Class A drug offences, and a small number of other very serious crimes.
The District Courts' civil jurisdiction allows the Court to hear any matter where the amount in dispute is $200,000 or less. Civil claims involve arguments over money and property and can include complex commercial transactions.
The District Courts were established in 1980 to replace Magistrates Courts, which had dealt with minor criminal matters and civil claims since 1893. The establishment of the District Courts was the result of the recommendations made in the 1978 Royal Commission on the Courts. report. District Courts were given an expanded jurisdiction and the Family Court was created as a division of the District Court in 1981.
The Youth Court is another specialist division of the District Court, dealing with people under the age of 17 who have been charged with criminal offending.
Today there are 66 District Courts located throughout New Zealand. In 2011, the New Zealand Attorney-General stated that the District Court was "the largest court in Australasia". The larger District Courts operate on a daily basis, while others may only operate on a weekly or monthly basis, usually being serviced by Judges from larger centres.
Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the District Court derives from the District Courts Act 1947, which provides that the District Court can hear both criminal and civil proceedings.The District Courts criminal jurisdiction is busier and arguably broader than any other Court. Over 95% of all criminal trials, including jury trials on all but the most serious matters are heard in the District Court. Within its jurisdiction are offences ranging from very serious offending such as rape, aggravated robbery, and sexual violation down to minor offences such as disorderly behaviour. The only charges that cannot be heard by the District Court are murder, manslaughter and Class A drug offences, and a small number of other very serious crimes.
The District Courts' civil jurisdiction allows the Court to hear any matter where the amount in dispute is $200,000 or less. Civil claims involve arguments over money and property and can include complex commercial transactions.