Expressions of interest are invited from persons wishing to be considered for appointment as a Visiting Justice in the following areas: 

• Auckland 
• Waikato 
• Manawatu 
• Canterbury 
• Otago 

Section 19 (2) of the Corrections Act 2004 provides that the Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, appoint any Justice of the Peace or barrister or solicitor of the High Court to be a Visiting Justice for every prison.  Under section 19(4) of the Act Visiting Justices have the following powers in respect of each prison. 

The central function of Visiting Justices is to hear charges and appeals relating to offences against prison discipline. They also review decisions to detain a prisoner in a police jail, to segregate a prisoner. Occasionally, Visiting Justices undertake inquiries into aspects of prison administration and the treatment of prisoners. They have statutory powers to conduct such inquiries and to report their findings to the chief executive of the Department of Corrections 

In addition to a sound knowledge of the governing legislation and an interest in access to justice issues, appointees will need to have: 

• Relevant qualifications and or experience 
• Impartiality, open mindedness and good judgement  
• Sound decision-making abilities 
• Integrity 
• Listening and communication skills 
• Awareness and sensitivity to the place of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand’s constitution and the diversity of New Zealand society. 

Visiting Justices hold office for a term of 3 years and may, from time to time, be reappointed. 

A position description and application forms are available from the Ministry of Justice website https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/statutory-vacancies/#VJ. Applications close 8 June 2026.