Ministry of Justice (New Zealand) facts for kids
The Ministry of Justice (called Te Tāhū o te Ture in Māori) is a very important part of the New Zealand Government. Its main job is to help the courts work smoothly and make sure justice is fair for everyone in New Zealand.
The Ministry helps create new laws and gives advice to government leaders. It also works to reduce crime and make communities safer. They want people to trust the justice system and keep New Zealand's government rules strong.
They also manage the court system, help people get legal aid (money for a lawyer), and run national elections.
| Tāhū o te Ture | |
 |
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| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1872 |
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand Government |
| Headquarters | Justice Centre, 19 Aitken St, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Employees | More than 4,000 |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Ministry executive |
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Contents
Who Works at the Ministry?
The Ministry of Justice has over 4,000 staff members. They work in more than 100 places across New Zealand. These staff members include lawyers, policy experts, and many others.
They do important jobs like researching justice issues and helping with new laws. They also handle daily tasks that keep the justice system running. This includes court security and looking after computer systems.
Working Together for Justice
In 2011, a group called the Justice Sector Leadership Board was created. It includes leaders from six main justice groups. These are Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children), New Zealand Police, the Department of Corrections, the Crown Law Office, and the Serious Fraud Office.
Their goal is to make sure all these groups work better together. This helps them provide improved services for people in New Zealand. They work on budgets and try to have the same goals. By working as a team, they hope to help victims more and make the whole justice system more efficient.
Leading the Ministry
The Ministry of Justice has a Strategic Leadership Team of six people. This team is led by Andrew Kibblewhite, who is the Secretary for Justice and Chief Executive.
Their main job is to make the Ministry more modern and efficient. This helps them provide better services faster. They are working to improve how people can access services online.
What the Ministry Does
Developing Justice Policies
The Ministry of Justice has special teams that create new policies. They give legal advice to the government. These teams research and check policies about civil, criminal, and constitutional laws. They also help with important talks about Treaty of Waitangi claims.
When new laws are being thought about, these teams ask the public for their ideas. This makes sure that New Zealanders' thoughts are included. It also helps make the process open and fair.
The Ministry also works with the New Zealand Law Commission. This is an independent group that gives advice on legal issues. The Ministry of Justice helps put the government's policies and laws into action.
Supporting the Courts
The Ministry of Justice helps all three parts of the government. It supports the independent courts, the government leaders, and the lawmakers. This is a unique role in New Zealand.
They help run most of New Zealand's courts. This includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, and 58 District Courts. They also help the Coroners Court, Environment Court, Employment Court, and Māori Land Court.
The Ministry provides help with administration, technology, and staff support. They also offer training for court staff. The courts also give ideas to the Ministry on how to improve services. The Ministry helps the courts use technology fairly and properly.
Looking into Judge Conduct
The Ministry helps with Judicial Conduct Panels. These panels can be set up if there's a complaint about a judge. Their job is to look closely into the judge's actions.
A panel usually has two judges (or senior lawyers) and one person who is not a judge or lawyer. They act like a court case, where the judge being complained about can have a lawyer. The panel then reports its findings to the Attorney-General.
Official Information Requests
New Zealand has an Official Information Act. This law lets citizens ask for information from the government. This helps people understand what the government is doing and hold it accountable.
The Ministry must provide official information it holds when asked. This includes reasons for decisions and details about policies. You can ask for information using an online form. However, information about ongoing court cases cannot be shared due to privacy rules.
Daily Services for People
The Ministry's website says it provides many services. They help manage cases and support the courts in 103 places. They also help with the Waitangi Tribunal.
The Ministry helps with legal aid, which helps people pay for lawyers. They provide information about family violence and protection orders. They also help with separation, divorce, and jury service. Other services include enforcing civil debts and accessing wills. The Ministry also advises the Minister of Justice on cases where people might have been wrongly convicted.
- Legal Aid: The government helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. This ensures everyone can defend themselves in court, no matter their financial situation. Sometimes, people might need to pay back some of the legal aid. It is available for criminal cases, victims of violence, and family disputes.
- Jury Service: This is a key part of the justice system. When a case goes to trial, 12 people are chosen randomly from the local area. They listen to all the evidence and decide if the accused person is guilty or not guilty. People who work in the justice system, like police officers, cannot be on a jury.
- Waitangi Tribunal: This group was set up in 1975. It listens to claims from Māori people who believe their rights under the Treaty of Waitangi have been broken. These claims are about government actions or laws that may have harmed Māori rights. The Tribunal makes recommendations to the government. While the government doesn't have to follow these recommendations, they often do.
How the Justice System is Funded
The justice system in New Zealand includes the police, courts, prisons, and support services. It needs a lot of money to work well and keep law and order. The government provides money for the justice system each year.
This money goes to the New Zealand Police, the Ministry of Justice, and the Department of Corrections. It also funds the courts, legal aid, and services for victims of crime.
The police get a large part of the funding for salaries, equipment, and training. The courts also receive money to make sure judges and staff can do their jobs. Prisons and rehabilitation programs are funded through the Department of Corrections. Legal aid and victim support services also get important funding.
Rising crime rates and the need for new technology mean the justice system needs more money. Future plans include finding new ways to solve problems and using technology in courts. This aims to make the system more efficient and fair for everyone.
Current Ministers
The Ministry works with 5 different areas and 4 ministers.
| Officeholder | Portfolios | Other responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Hon Paul Goldsmith | Lead Minister (Ministry of Justice) Minister of Justice Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations |
|
| Hon Nicole McKee | Minister for Courts | Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) |
| Hon Tama Potaka | Minister for Māori-Crown Relations | |
| Hon Karen Chhour | Minister for the Prevention of Family and ... Violence | |
| Hon David Seymour | Associate Minister of Justice (Treaty Principles Bill) |
See also
- Justice ministry
- Law of New Zealand
- New Zealand Law Commission
- Legal Aid in New Zealand
