The Budget’s boost to the Ministry of Justice will mean that 100 extra court staff will be taken on next year.

Last week’s Budget included a $238.2 million investment over four years for the ministry, and $2 billion for all law and order agencies.

Chief Executive Andrew Bridgman says the Ministry will receive $145.8 million over four years to provide core justice and court services.

“As part of that, District Court personnel and operating expenses have been allocated $47.6 million over four years,” he says. “This will fund an extra 100 court staff next year rising to a total of 130 by 2020/21.”

“The additional funding is largely in recognition of the recent increase, and projected increase, in demand from Category 3 court cases, which are more complex for us to deal with.” 

The Office of Treaty Settlements received $12.2 million over two years to resource its work to broaden the geographic and population reach of Treaty settlement negotiations. It also received $2.8 million for the 2017/18 year to enable the Crown to participate in the resolution of disputes concerning the relativity mechanism contained in the Waikato-Tainui and Ngai Tahu Historical Treaty Settlements.