High Court of New Zealand | |
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Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa (Māori) | |
Established | 1841 |
Location | Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and other main centres |
Authorized by | Judicature Act 1908 |
Decisions are appealed to | Court of Appeal of New Zealand |
Decisions are heard for appeals from | |
Number of positions | 56 |
Website | http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/ |
Chief High Court Judge of New Zealand | |
Currently | The Hon Justice Venning |
Since | 2014 |
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court established in 1841. It was originally called the 'Supreme Court of New Zealand', but was renamed in 1980 to make way for the naming of a new Supreme Court of New Zealand, which first met in 2004.
The High Court has general jurisdiction and responsibility, under the Judicature Act 1908, as well as the High Court Rules, for the administration of justice throughout New Zealand. Jurisdiction extends over both criminal and civil matters, and deals with cases at first instance or on appeal from other courts and certain tribunals.
The High Court comprises the Chief Justice of New Zealand (who is head of the Judiciary) and up to 55 other Judges (which includes the Judges of the Supreme Court and 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) 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 Whangarei, Hamilton, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim, Greymouth, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The Court also has registries in Masterton and Tauranga.