High Court of New Zealand

Composition and locations

The High Court comprises the Chief Justice (who is head of the judiciary) and up to 55 other Judges (which includes the Justices of the Supreme Court and the Justices of the Court of Appeal). The administrative head of the court is known as the Chief High Court Judge. Associate Judges of the High Court (formerly known as Masters up until May 2004) supervise the Court's preliminary processes in most civil proceedings, and have jurisdiction to deal with summary judgment applications, company liquidations, bankruptcy proceedings, and some other types of civil proceedings.

The High Court Judges and Associate Judges are based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, but also travel on circuit to Whangārei, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim, Greymouth, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The Court also has a registry in Masterton.

Jurisdiction

Criminal matters

The High Court deals with the most serious types of criminal offences that exceed the District Court's jurisdiction. It deals with all category 4 offences, including murder, manslaughter and treason, as well as any other offence where the accused is likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment or preventive detention. A High Court Judge may direct that a serious category 2 and 3 "protocol" offence, such as aggravated wounding with intent, kidnapping or sexual violation of a child, be transferred from the District Court to the High Court for hearing. Most cases are heard before a Judge and jury, but may sometimes be heard before a Judge alone.

Civil matters

The Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all civil claims where the amount in dispute exceeds $350,000, and certain categories of proceedings. The categories of proceeding which can only be commenced in the High Court includes matters concerning admiralty, certain applications relating to land (such as seeking its transfer or caveats), company law including liquidations, bankruptcy, the administration of estates and trusts, and trade mark and patent infringement. For civil claims of up to $350,000, the High Court can have co-extensive jurisdiction with the District Court.

Cited cases

Main article: List of cases of the High Court of New Zealand

Appellate function

Rights of appeal to the High Court exist against the decisions of the District Court (except for jury trials), the Family Court, the Youth Court and the Environment Court and numerous administrative tribunals and regulatory bodies.

Judges of the High Court

The following are the permanent Judges of the High Court :

Associate Judges of the High Court

Associate Judges have more limited jurisdiction than full High Court judges. They deal with caveats, company liquidations, bankruptcy applications, summary judgment applications, other interlocutory applications, and case management.

The following are the Associate Judges of the High Court :

Relationship with Australian courts

The Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 (NZ), the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 (Aust) and the High Court Rules 2016 streamline the process for resolving civil proceedings with a trans-Tasman element. The Acts cover many matters including service, interim relief, hearing matters remotely and the enforcement of judgments of courts of the other country.

References

References

1. "Supreme Court Act 1841 (5 Victoriae 1841 No 1)".
2. (2018-01-30). "Judicature Amendment Act 1979".
3. "History and role – Courts of New Zealand".
4. Criminal Procedure Act 2011, section 74(3).
5. Criminal Procedure Act 2011, sections 66 to 70.
6. "The Judges and Associate Judges of the High Court". Courts of New Zealand.
7. "Judicial appointments announced".
8. (18 April 2019). "Appointment of Judge of the High Court". beehive.govt.nz.
9. "Appointment of Judges of the High Court".
10. "Appointment of Judge of the High Court".
11. Parker, David. (7 October 2021). "Judge and Associate Judge of High Court appointed".
12. Guildford, Jonathan. (2021-10-07). "Prominent Christchurch lawyer Jonathan Eaton QC appointed High Court judge".
13. Parker, David. (15 October 2021). "Judge of the High Court appointed".
14. Parker, David. (8 April 2022). "High Court Judge appointed".
15. Parker, David. (1 June 2022). "HAppointment of Judges of Court of Appeal and High Court".
16. Parker, David. (14 November 2022). "Appointment of Judge and Associate Judge of the High Court".
17. Parker, David. (2 December 2022). "Appointment of Judge of the High Court".
18. Parker, David. (6 April 2023). "Appointment of Judge of the High Court and Associate Judge of the High Court".
19. Parker, David. (17 March 2023). "Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court".
20. Parker, David. (10 May 2023). "Appointment of High Court Judge".
21. Parker, David. (14 August 2023). "Appointment of High Court Judge".
22. Parker, David. (9 August 2023). "Appointment of High Court Judge".
23. Parker, David. (22 August 2023). "Appointment of High Court Judge".
24. Collins, Judith. (20 December 2023). "Judicial appointments announced".
25. Collins, Judith. (26 January 2024). "High Court Judge appointed".
26. Collins, Judith. (20 December 2023). "High Court Judge appointed".
27. Collins, Judith. (19 April 2024). "Judicial appointments announced".
28. Collins, Judith. (14 June 2024). "High Court Judge appointed".
29. Collins, Judith. (25 October 2024). "Judicial appointments announced".
30. Collins, Judith. (11 April 2025). "New High Court Judge appointed".
31. Collins, Judith. (16 May 2025). "New High Court Judge appointed".
32. Collins, Judith. (10 October 2025). "Judicial appointments announced".
33. Collins, Judith. (21 November 2025). "Judicial Appointments announced".
34. Collins, Judith. (21 November 2025). "Judicial Appointments announced".
35. Collins, Judith. (19 December 2025). "New High Court Judge appointed".
36. "The Judges and Associate Judges of the High Court". Courts of New Zealand.