The courts
Most courts and tribunals will be closed during the holiday period. All courts and tribunals will be open on Monday, 9 January 2017, with some opening from Wednesday, 4 January.
If you have any questions, call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787).
Urgent applications to the Family Court
Urgent applications to the Family Court will be dealt with by duty judges who are available each weekday, except for the public holidays on 26–27 December and 2–3 January.
Any applications received by the court before 2pm will be dealt with on the same day. Applications received after 2pm will be dealt with on the next working day.
The process for urgent Family Court applications will go back to normal on 9 January.
Mental health
Judges will be available to deal with any applications made to the Family Court for a review of a patient’s condition, section 16 of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.
Arrest courts
Arrest courts will be held over the holiday period as needed.
Court hours for each court
Supreme Court
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Monday 9 January
Court of Appeal
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
High Court
Close: 5pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
District Courts
Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Hastings, Hutt Valley, Invercargill, Kaikohe, Levin, Manukau, Masterton, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, North Shore, Palmerston North, Papakura, Porirua, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tauranga, Timaru, Tokoroa, Waitakere, Wellington, Whakatane, Whanganui, Whangarei
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
Alexandra, Ashburton, Dannevirke, Gore, Hawera, Huntly, Kaitaia, Morrinsville, Pukekohe, Taumarunui, Taupo, Thames, Wairoa, Westport
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Monday 9 January (except Taihape 10am)
The following courts will resume hearings as scheduled in the new year:
Chatham Islands, Dargaville, Kaikoura, Marton, Oamaru, Opotiki, Ruatoria, Te Awamutu, Te Kuiti, Waihi, Waipukurau
Legal Aid Services processing
Criminal legal aid applications will continue to be processed between Christmas and the New Year.
While some offices will be closed on 28, 29 and 30 December others will be covering for them as outlined below.
During this period please make sure you send criminal legal aid applications that would normally be processed by the closed office to the corresponding covering office.
|
Closed office |
Covering office |
Contact details |
|
Waitakere |
Manukau |
Email: manukau.legalaid@justice.govt.nz Phone: 09 262 7750 Fax: 09 262 7759 |
|
Rotorua |
Napier |
Email: napier.legalaid@justice.govt.nz Phone: 06 833 7750 Fax: 06 833 7759 |
|
New Plymouth |
Napier |
Email: napier.legalaid@justice.govt.nz Phone: 06 833 7750 Fax: 06 833 7759 |
|
Wellington |
Christchurch |
Email: christchurch.legalaid@justice.govt.nz Phone: 03 339 4730 Fax: 03 339 4791 |
The Takapuna legal aid office will be open throughout the holiday period and will process applications from the Auckland central, North Shore and Northland courts that they currently manage.
From 4 January 2017 all legal aid offices will manage their own applications.
Employment Court, Environment Court, Māori Land Court and Coronial Services
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
The National Initial Investigation Office (NIIO) will be open 24 hours a day.
Tribunals Unit
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
Land Information New Zealand
Close: 5pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
Landonline will be unavailable from 5pm on Saturday 24 December 2016 until 6am on 4 January 2017.
Companies office
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 08.30am, Wednesday 4 January
The phone, website support services and registration processing are open until 5pm, Friday 23 December 2016.
Immigration Advisers Authority
Close: Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
Any online applications submitted during this time will be treated as being received on 4 January 2016.
New Zealand Council of Legal Education
Close: 16 December
Open: 10am, Monday 16 January
No applications for assessment of overseas qualifications or completion certificates will be processed during this closure.
New Zealand Law Society
Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Monday 9 January
Intellectual Property Office New Zealand
Close: 5pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 8.30am, Wednesday 4 January
Online Case Management is available in between these dates however, anything which is filed will be dealt with when the office re-opens on 4January.
Takeovers Panel
Close: 5pm, Friday 23 December
Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January
While the offices are closed, the Panel’s senior executive staff will be monitoring their emails and can be contacted on the phone numbers listed on the Panel’s website.