Established 1893 | Number of positions 133 | |
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Composition method Appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Attorney-General Authorized by Decisions are appealed to High Court of New Zealand, Court of Appeal of New Zealand Judge term length Life tenure (Constitution Act 1986, s 23) | ||
The District Courts of New Zealand (Māori: Ngā Kōti ā Rohe) are New Zealand's main trial courts. The District Courts can hear civil claims up to $200,000 ($500,000 if recovery of land is claimed) and most criminal cases. There are sixty-three District Courts throughout New Zealand (as of 2011) 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 (formerly titled the Magistrates' Courts Act 1947) as well as the District Court Rules which are periodically revised by the Rules Committee (last revised 2014).
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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.
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 category 4 offences, such as murder, manslaughter and crimes against the State (e.g. treason). The District Court cannot sentence a person to life imprisonment or to preventative detention; such cases require a transfer to the High Court for sentencing.
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.
Judges
There are 133 District Court Judges, including the Chief District Court Judge. Judges are permanently based in the main centres, but travel to other courts on circuit. While each District Court Judge can preside over minor criminal matters, they each specialise in particular aspects of the District Courts jurisdiction, either jury trials, family or youth.
Courts
These courts are only open for hearings and trials. Their registry courts are noted in brackets.