The pioneering work of the Ngā Kooti Rangatahi/Rangatahi Court has been acknowledged in its receipt of the 2015 Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration Award (AIJA) for Excellence in Judicial Administration, says Courts and Justice Minister Amy Adams.   

“I want to congratulate the judges and Ministry of Justice, in particular the Chief District Court Judge and Principal Youth Court Judge, and Youth Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu who established the first Rangatahi Court in Gisborne back in 2008,” says Ms Adams.

Budget 2016 will invest an additional $96 million of operating funding over this year and the next four years to make it easier for low-income New Zealanders to access advice from legal aid lawyers and community law centres, Associate Justice Minister Simon Bridges says.

Key parts of the package are:

Budget 2016 invests heavily in core justice services, with $208.4 million in additional funding over the next four years – the largest increase to Justice and Courts in almost a decade, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams says.

“This investment underpins the Government’s commitment to delivering core justice services and keeping New Zealanders safe. It will better support access to justice and strengthen efficiencies across the system,” Ms Adams says. 

Former Appeal Court Judge Hon Douglas White QC has been appointed as the next President of the Law Commission, Justice Minister Amy Adams announced today. 

Justice White was appointed as a part-time Law Commissioner in February and becomes President effective immediately, as Sir Grant Hammond is stepping down after nearly six years in the role.

“Justice White is a distinguished lawyer and judge, and I’m pleased that a jurist of his calibre is set to lead the Commission,” Ms Adams says.     

Budget 2016 will invest $46 million of operating funding over four years to better support victims and prevent sexual violence, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Social Development Minister Anne Tolley say.

The $46 million in total funding, of which $6.4 million is reprioritised funding, will be used to design and implement new sexual violence services and maintain existing services.

The Inquiry report into the management of Tony Douglas Robertson before and after his release from prison is being released today by Justice Minister Amy Adams and Corrections Minister Judith Collins.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the start of the search for a new Chief Electoral Officer.

Current Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden advised Ms Adams last year that he would not be seeking reappointment after completing a five-year term in the role.

The Chief Electoral Officer is the Chief Executive and member of the three-person Board of the Electoral Commission, appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of Parliament. 

Ms Adams says the Commission plays a central role in New Zealand's democratic process.

Justice Minister Amy Adams today welcomed the Law Commission’s comprehensive report on improving criminal law relating to family violence victims who commit homicide acting in self-defence.

“A terrible consequence of family violence is that some victims are driven to killing their abusers – as a result of often years of abuse,” says Ms Adams.

A Bill to make minor technical changes to New Zealand’s alcohol legislation has passed its first reading in Parliament with unanimous support.

“Since the passing of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act in 2012, we’re already seeing fewer alcohol outlets, the first local plans coming into force, and more communities getting the chance to have their say on the sale of alcohol in their neighbourhoods,” says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced details of how the Government is planning to apply the Social Investment approach to the criminal justice system.

“Across the board, the Government is taking significant steps to better protect the vulnerable in our society. One of the best things we can do to support victims is to stop them from ever becoming one,” Ms Adams says.

A pilot to support judges to make better informed family violence bail decisions expands to Wellington, Wairarapa and Northland, Justice Minister Amy Adams and Police Minister Judith Collins have announced today.

The pilot programme gives judges making bail decisions in family violence cases more information about the risks defendants pose.

The number of defendants gaining permanent name suppression has dropped significantly since the Government tightened the rules, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

The Criminal Procedure Act 2011 changed how name suppression is granted and the numbers of defendants receiving permanent name suppression have now halved.  A key change was raising the threshold for a defendant to gain suppression from ‘undue hardship’ to ‘extreme hardship’.

Ministers from across Australia and New Zealand will meet to discuss Trans-Tasman cooperation on topics from family violence to natural disasters.

New Zealand will host the fifth meeting of the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC) in Queenstown from 27-28 April.

Justice Minister Amy Adams will chair the plenary session on Family Violence and Community Safety. Police Minister Judith Collins and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye will chair sessions on Law Enforcement and Emergency Management, respectively.

An increasingly popular justice initiative that gives victims the opportunity to hold offenders to account is proving effective at reducing crime, says Justice Minister Amy Adams.

Restorative justice conferences are face-to-face meetings where victims can tell offenders how the crime affected them, and where offenders can take personal responsibility for their actions. The process is run by trained facilitators and only takes place with the consent of both the victim and the offender.

As part of the Government’s commitment to a more integrated, more effective response to family violence, an innovative new approach is to be piloted in Christchurch from 1 July, Ministers have announced.

The Integrated Safety Response pilot will bring together a team of Police, CYF, Corrections, Health, specialist family violence NGOs and Māori service providers to support victims and their families.

The pilot is part of the comprehensive cross-agency work programme overseen by the Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence.

The number of young people, aged 10 to 16 appearing before the courts has fallen to a 20 year low, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams says.

In addition, the total number of adults charged and convicted in New Zealand courts has also fallen to its lowest level since 1980, reflecting the government’s focus on reducing crime and reoffending rates.

Former High Court Judge Pamela Andrews has been appointed chairperson of the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal, Associate Justice Minister Simon Bridges has announced.

Catherine Sandelin, an Auckland based lawyer, has been reappointed as a member of the Tribunal. Both appointments are for three years.

Ms Andrews’ appointment follows the recent resignation of former District Court Judge Paul Barber for health reasons.

Three new Better Public Services supporting measures will help drive the public sector to understand the scale and impact of family violence and the number of re-offenders, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Ms Adams today released the Justice Sector’s BPS results for the quarter ending September 2015, which show reductions in the rates of total crime (down 17 per cent), youth crime (down 39 per cent), re-offending (down 7.7 per cent) and violent crime (down 10 per cent) since 2011.

Ms Adams today leaves for Europe to attend several meetings covering human rights and efforts to combat corruption.

In Geneva, Ms Adams will lead a delegation to present the Government’s latest report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to the UN Human Rights Committee. Ms Adams will also deliver a National Statement to the UN Human Rights Council.

“To be the first New Zealand Minister to deliver a speech to the Human Rights Council is an honour,” Ms Adams says.

Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams placed the last bit of cement on the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct’s rooftop as part of today’s topping off ceremony.

“This marks an important milestone in the Precinct’s development as well as a chance to recognise the significant progress we have made since construction began 15 months ago,” Ms Adams says.

“There’s now just over a year to go until we deliver on our commitment to provide Cantabrians with modern and effective justice and emergency services.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has welcomed a recommendation from the Law Commission to make strangulation a specific crime, saying it fits well with the Government’s review of family violence laws.

“Strangulation is an abhorrent act. This is a deeply personal and intimidating form of violence. In a domestic violence context, it’s more than just a physical attack and can have a devastating and long-lasting psychological impact on victims,” Ms Adams says.