Latest COVID-19 updates

This page was last updated on 25 September at 12pm.

Latest updates on our website relating to the Ministry's response to COVID-19 are listed below:

25 September 2020

• A new section about COVID-19 commercial lease dispute services has been added. It has information about streamlined arbitration and mediation services to resolve commercial lease disputes arising from COVID-19.

21 September 2020

• Information for all court users and other court pages updated regarding how courts will operate as of 22 September

7 September 2020

• Microsoft Teams Guest User Quick Reference Guide for participating in a remote court hearing updated

4 September 2020

• COVID-19 information page and related court pages updated regarding jury trials in the Auckland region resuming 7 September 2020

3 September 2020

• Factsheet about health and safety in the courts has been updated [PDF, 104 KB]

2 September 2020

• Factsheet about health and safety in the courts has been updated [PDF, 181 KB]. 

1 September 2020

• Coroners Court COVID-19 Alert Level 2 protocols (external link)has been updated
• COVID-19 Information for lawyers and service providers has been updated

31 August 2020

• Guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 alert levels has been updated.

• Our Courts and related pages have been updated with new content explaining how courts are operating at COVID-19 Alert Level 2
• Information on participating in a virtual meeting room court hearing has been updated
• Disputes Tribunal (external link)updated with latest protocols for COVID-19 Alert Level 2

28 August 2020

• Information on justice services and programmes has been updated with new information to reflect different COVID-19 Alert Levels

• Information for service providers on the COVID-19: Information for lawyers and service providers has been updated

27 August 2020

• COVID-19 information page and related court pages updated with new jury trial suspension information
• Information for all court users page updated with new jury trial suspension information
• Video training resource YouTube link for remote participation in court hearings has been published

26 August 2020

• Guidance for property sales and settlements during COVID-19 has been published
• Property sales and settlements guidance for lawyers during COVID-19 has been published
• Information on a subsidised arbitration service for lease disputes has been published

25 August 2020

• COVID-19 protocol for the Immigration & Protection Tribunal has been updated.

24 August 2020

• Information for all court users page has been updated.

21 August 2020

• Guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 alert levels has been updated.

20 August 2020

• COVID-19 information hub webpage updated to include link to information for people in managed isolation needing to acess the District Court.

19 August 2020

• News Story - Between Monday 24 August - Thursday 27 August 2020, public access to the Christchurch Law Courts will be limited. These include all Christchurch Courts held at the Justice & Emergency Services Precinct.

18 August 2020

• The Chief Victims Advisor website(external link) was updated with current COVID-19 information.
• The Tokoroa courthouse (including services for the District Court, Family Court, Youth Court, Disputes Tribunal, Tenancy Tribunal and counter services) will be closed today, Tuesday 18 August, but will re-open tomorrow. Call 0800 COURTS for more information.
• Guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 alert levels has been updated.
• Jury service pages for various courts have been updated with attendance requirements given the current COVID-19 Alert Levels.

17 August 2020

• Information on remote court hearings was updated for current COVID-19 Alert Levels.
• Disputes Tribunal(external link) home page has been updated with COVID-19 protocols for the Auckland region
• Various Courts pages have been updated with attendance requirements given the current COVID-19 Alert Levels.

16 August 2020

• New interim guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 Alert levels was published to provide clearer advice for managing child arrangements between household bubbles during different COVID-19 Alert Levels

15 August 2020

• Jury service pages were updated regarding jury trial suspensions in the Auckland region under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Information for families and whānau was added for various COVID-19 Alert Levels

14 August 2020

• Guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 Alert levels was refreshed

13 August 2020

• The Chief Justice issued a statement(external link) announcing that jury trials in the Auckland region are still suspended until Monday 17 August, but jury trials throughout the rest of the country will resume today, 13 August.

12 August 2020

• Updated health and safety factsheets:
  
  

  Health and Safety measures during COVID-19 Alert Level 3 [PDF, 106 KB]

  Health and Safety measures during COVID-19 Alert Level 2 [PDF, 107 KB]

• Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Remote Courts activated following the Prime Minister’s announcement last night.
• The Chief Justice announced that jury trials in the Auckland region are suspended until Monday, 17 August(external link) and jury trials throughout the rest of the country are suspended for 24 hours.
• Court protocols have been updated as a result of the Prime Minister's announcement last night.

29 July 2020

• The Chief District Court Judge has issued a protocol for people who are in managed isolation or quarantine and wish to access the District Court. Read the District Court Protocol - Isolation or Quarantine(external link)

10 June 2020

• Information for all court users has been updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 1.
• Jury service has been updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 1.

 4 June 2020

• Arbitrating commercial lease disputes - New policy to support commercial landlords and tenants to reach agreement about rent disputes relating to COVID-19.

25 May 2020

• The page about advice on the consistency of Bills with the Bill of Rights Act was updated with new guidance relating to the COVID-19 Public Health Response Bill and the Forests Amendment Bill

22 May 2020

• The Chief District Court Judge has issued a practice note setting out the process for appeals to a public health order issued under section 11 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.
• Updated Guidance for commercial leases and mortgages in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
• Updated Commercial property guidance for lawyers in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
• Advice on how to make a claim in the Disputes Tribunal(external link) was updated in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions were updated with information about Protection Orders.
• The Māori Land Court site was updated with guidance for trusts, incorporations and land owners affected by COVID-19.(external link)
• Guidance relating to the payment of fines during COVID-19 was updated.

19 May 2020

• Information for families and whānau has been updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2
• Participating in a virtual meeting room court hearing has been updated
• Court entry screening to change from Monday 18th May

18 May 2020

• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions were updated
• Read the COVID-19 Alert Level 2 tribunal protocols on the individual tribunal pages

17 May 2020

• Courts and tribunals continue to conduct as much of its usual business as it is safely able to in COVID-19 Alert Level 2. 
• Read the court protocols during COVID-19 Alert Level 2 on the Courts of New Zealand website.(external link) 
• Updated information for all court users in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
• Updated Guidance for Residential Property Settlements in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
• Updated Guidance for Lawyers about Property Settlements in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

15 May 2020

• Report 3 of the COVID-19 Justice Sector Survey was released
• Our guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 was updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
• The Accident Compensation Appeals District Court Registry updated their COVID-19 Alert Level 2 guidance

14 May 2020

• As directed by the Chief Justice, courts and tribunals remain operating at COVID-19 Alert Level 3 protocols(external link) and will transition to Alert Level 2 protocols on Monday 18 May.
• A factsheet about health and safety measures that will be in place in the courts for Alert Level 2 has been published
• FAQs for Youth Court Professionals on COVID-19 Alert Level 2 published on the Youth Court page 
• Updated Guidance for Managing Shared Custody in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 2

12 May 2020

• Ministry of Justice's Crime and Victims Survey Team results of Alert Level 4 lockdown survey has been published

8 May 2020

• A factsheet about health and safety measures that are in place in the courts for Alert Level 3 has been published

7 May 2020

• Reports from the COVID-19 Justice Sector Survey have been published

6 May 2020

• Information about alcohol licensing has been updated

5 May 2020

• Access to court locations updated with the latest status of all courts, including how to file documents at each location 
• FAQs for Youth Court Professionals on COVID-19 Alert Level 3 published on the Youth Court page

29 April 2020

• Criminal Record Checks was updated with information about how the service is operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
  
• Coronial Services(external link) was updated with information about how the service is operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Information for the legal profession was updated with guidance for COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Information for all court users was updated with guidance for COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Information about oaths, affirmations and declarations was updated with guidance for COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Family court guidance was updated with information about COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• The Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority was updated with information about how the service is operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions were updated
• Our Courts landing page was updated with information about how the courts are operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• The Family section of the website was updated with guidance about COVID-19 Alert Level 3.

28 April 2020

• Updated Court Closures page with information about which courts are operating at COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Updated About Civil Debt pages in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Updated Information for people needing to complete oaths in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Updated Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Updated Land Valuation Tribunal in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Updated Guidance for Residential Property Settlements in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Updated Guidance for Lawyers about Property Settlements in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
• Updated Guidance for Managing Shared Custody in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3

27 April 2020

• Updated Frequently Asked Questions in relation to parenting orders and shared custody in Alert Level 3

Information about how various tribunals will operate in COVID-19 Alert Level 3 was published:

• Disputes Tribunal
• Tenancy Tribunal
• Motor Vehicle Dealer Disputes Tribunal
• Alcohol Regulatory & Licensing Authority
• Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority
• Licensing Authority of Secondhand Dealers & Pawnbrokers
• Human Rights Review Tribunal
• Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal
• The Accident Compensation Appeals District Court Registry
• Victims' Special Claims Tribunal
• Copyright Tribunal
• Criminal Justice Assistance Reimbursement Scheme
• Customs Appeal Authority
• Immigration Advisors Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal
• Immigration and Protection Tribunal
• Land Valuation Tribunal
• Legal Aid Tribunal
• The Review Authority
• Social Security Appeal Authority
• Student Allowance Appeal Authority
• Taxation Review Authority
• Trans-Tasman Occupations Tribunal
• Weathertight Homes Tribunal

24 April 2020

• Information for all court users updated to outline how courts will work at Alert Level 3. 
• Changes were made to the signing and witnessing of Enduring Powers of Attorney in light of COVID-19.

23 April 2020

• Added new Media Guide.
• Uploaded COVID-19 Level 3 emergency directions advisory from Private Security & Personnel Licensing Authority.

22 April 2020

• FAQs about COVID-19 were updated.
• Latest updates about COVID-19 were updated.

21 April 2020

• A dedicated COVID-19 section was launched on our website.

20 April 2020

• FAQs about COVID-19 were updated.

17 April 2020

• Changes were made to the requirements for signing and witnessing wills, as well as taking oaths, affirmations and declarations, in light of COVID-19. 
• Requirements for alcohol licensing also changed. 
• More information was provided about family court guidance.
• Information about admission to the bar was added.
• New guidance for the media in court was added.

15 April 2020

• Rules around commercial leases and mortgages were updated in light of COVID-19. 
• Added new property advice to COVID-19 information page.

14 April 2020

• Updated guidance for managing shared custody of children during COVID-19.

 9 April 2020

• Updated information regarding Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal process during COVID-19.

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/jury-service

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/jury-service/check-if-you-need-to-attend-jury-service-today-or-tomorrow

https://www.justice.govt.nz/contact-us

https://www.justice.govt.nz/covid-19-information

https://www.justice.govt.nz/covid-19-information/about-courts-and-tribunals

https://www.justice.govt.nz/covid-19-information/information-for-families-and-whanau

https://www.justice.govt.nz/covid-19-information/information-for-all-court-users

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/going-to-court/

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/civil/

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/criminal/

https://www.youthcourt.govt.nz/home-2/(external link)

https://www.justice.govt.nz/family/

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/high-court/

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/court-of-appeal/

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/supreme-court/

https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/criminal/therapeutic-courts

← Back to the news

This page was last updated: 28th September 2020