The High Court of New Zealand was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court until 1980.

The High Court has general jurisdiction and responsibility, under the Judicature Act 1908, 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.

Composition and locations

The High Court comprises the Chief Justice (see: Chief Justice Sian Elias) (who is head of the Judiciary) and up to 55 other Judges (which includes the Judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and Court of Appeal). 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. In many countries, especially common law countries such as Canada and the United States the Chief Justice is the name for the presiding officer on a senior court such as the United States Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of New Zealand, the Supreme Court of... The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias, GNZM, is Chief Justice of New Zealand, and is therefore the most senior member of the countrys judiciary. ... The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court of appeal in New Zealand, having formally come into existence at the beginning of 2004, and sitting for the first time on 1 July 2004. ...

The High Court Judges and Masters are based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, but also travel on circuit to Whangarei, Hamilton, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim, Greymouth, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. The Court also has registries in Masterton and Tauranga. Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or Poneke) is the capital city of New Zealand, the countrys second-largest urban area and the most populous national capital city in Oceania. ... Situated on the Eastern coast, Christchurch is the principal city of the South Island of New Zealand. ...

Criminal matters

The High Court deals with the most serious types of criminal offences before a Judge and jury, and can impose sentence in summary, judge alone, cases where the District Court considers that a penalty is warranted that exceeds the District Court's jurisdiction. It also hears appeals from summary cases.

Civil matters

The Court generally deals only with those civil claims that exceed the jurisdiction of the District Court or other courts and tribunals, or where particularly complex issues are involved. This jurisdiction includes matters concerning admiralty, company law, bankruptcy, the administration of estates and trusts, property transfer, land valuation, and many other areas.

Appellate function

Rights of appeal to the High Court exist against the decisions of District, Family, Youth and Environment Courts and numerous administrative tribunals and regulatory bodies.

Source

This information is adapted from the website of the Ministry of Justice (New Zealand), 31 January 2006.