High Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand (Māori: Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa) is the superior court of New Zealand. It has general jurisdiction and responsibility, under the Senior Courts Act 2016, as well as the High Court Rules 2016, for the administration of justice throughout New Zealand. There are 18 High Court locations throughout New Zealand, plus one stand-alone registry.
| High Court of New Zealand | |
|---|---|
| Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa (Māori) | |
| Established | 1841 |
| Location | Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and other main centres |
| Authorized by | Senior Courts Act 2016 |
| Appeals to | Court of Appeal |
| Appeals from |
|
| Number of positions | 39 Judges and 7 Associate Judges |
| Website | http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/ |
| Chief High Court Judge of New Zealand | |
| Currently | The Hon Justice Susan Thomas |
| Since | 2020 |
Politics of New Zealand |
|---|
New Zealand portal
|
The High Court was established in 1841. It was originally called the "Supreme Court of New Zealand", but the name was changed in 1980 to make way for the naming of an eventual new Supreme Court of New Zealand.
The High Court is a court of first instance for serious criminal cases such as homicide, civil claims exceeding $350,000 and certain other civil cases. In its appellate function, the High Court hears appeals from the District Court, other lower courts and various tribunals.