2025 Triennial Review of Legal Aid – Summary of Discussion Document
19 June 2025The Ministry of Justice has launched a public consultation on the legal aid scheme, open from 11 June to 23 July 2025. The Ministry of Justice says the review aims to ensure the scheme remains efficient, sustainable, and continues to promote access to justice for all New Zealanders.
Read moreAccess to Justice Award 2025
30 May 2025Award co-sponsors, LexisNexis Ltd and the New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o Te Ture, are happy to announce that nominations are open for the 2025 Access to Justice Award.
Read moreBudget 2025: Justice System Impacts
23 May 2025Letter from Carl Crafar, Chief Operating Officer, Ministry of Justice. Budget 2025 includes a number of initiatives that will be of interest to the legal profession, and I would be happy for you share this update with them. Budget 2025 arrives in, and reflects, a tight fiscal climate, but it…
Read morePublic release of Te Puna Manawa Whenua | Māori Land Court Bench Book
14 May 2025Te Kura Kaiwhakawā | The Institute of Judicial Studies has today published Te Puna Manawa Whenua | Māori Land Court Bench Book on the Courts of New Zealand website. Today’s release follows the publication of the Criminal Jury Trials Bench Book at the end of 2024.
Read moreCase Review Hearings Guidelines
09 May 2025The Chief District Court Judge, His Honour Judge Taumaunu, has released the finalised Case Review Hearings Best Practice guidelines. His Honour notes that the guidelines were developed feedback over a period of months and included feedback from the profession.
Read moreCorrections Update | Supporting capacity in the women’s prison network
08 May 2025The Department of Corrections have been exploring opportunities within the prison network to safely and securely accommodate women, in response to the recent forecasted growth in the women’s prison population.
Read moreLSA v Fawcett - A case note
04 April 2025Felix Geiringer appeared as counsel for the Bar Association in the High Court and Court of Appeal in the recent case of Legal Services Commissioner v Fawcett. In this note to members, he outlines why this case was important for the Bar Association.
Read moreWomen lawyers remain under-represented as counsel in higher courts
13 March 2025The New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o Te Ture recently conducted further research revealing women lawyers remain markedly under-represented as counsel in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Read moreInternational Women's Day
06 March 2025International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on how far we have come and what we still need to achieve. The theme this year is #AccelerateAction. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2024, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 -…
Read moreBuilding advocacy confidence: insights from our Civil Oral Submissions Session
03 December 2024Our popular Oral Submissions Masterclass for criminal law practitioners was recently followed up with an equally-successful masterclass on Civil Oral Submissions. These Masterclasses are presented at an advanced level and the six attendees who sign up as presenting counsel are very experienced. This creates a unique learning environment for counsel…
Read moreThe President's Column - November 2024
14 November 2024In my first month in the job, I have carried on the work of my predecessor Maria Dew KC; shadowing Maria before taking over has been a very good introduction to the new role.
Read moreHigh Court Sentencing Competition
07 October 2024The final of the annual High Court Sentencing Advocacy Competition, was held at the Auckland High Court on 1 October. Both finalists were students from the University of Auckland, with Blake Storrier winning the final and Charlie Harmer as runner-up. His Honour, Johnstone J, commented that their performances were “truly…
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