New details have been revealed about security threats in courts around the country.
The details come as the number of security officers at courts is being boosted by 20 percent, and after the Chief District Court Judge issued new security guidelines for judges.
Documents released to RNZ under the Official Information Act show some close calls on the security front, including a brawl between rival gang members at the Tokoroa District Court, a potential run-in between gangs in Wairoa and a block of concrete thrown outside the Hamilton District Court.
In February, Christchurch police picked up a man with outstanding fines and took him to court. When security screened him, they found a .22 calibre pistol hidden in his pants.
The documents show Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue issued new security guidelines to judges in April this year, including that two security officers be present in court during a criminal hearing.
Judge Jan-Marie Doogue issues new security guidelines in April. Photo: Pool / Fairfax NZ
In a statement, Judge Doogue said the increase in security officers came after the guidelines were put in place.
"This demonstrates that the Ministry [of Justice] recognises the issue and takes it seriously, and judges of the District Court welcome that," Judge Doogue said.
According to the documents released by the ministry, the threats aren't just physical, but come over the phone and via letter.
The ministry's call centre received a call from one man who claimed he wanted to jump the dock and throttle a judge. He went on to warn he might use a samurai sword against someone.
When the judge was informed of the phone call, she requested a large police officer with a dog and gun visit her home as she was there alone that night.
In another case, a woman made six abusive phone calls to a judge's home and spoke to the judge's daughter. The call also contained a death threat.
Lawyer David Harvey spent 27 years on the bench, beginning his judge's career at the now-closed Otahuhu District Court.
He said, in those days, security was relaxed, with an open carpark and walkways between the main court and the Youth Court.
"That didn't seem to be remarkable and didn't cause us too much worry until a tragedy took place.
"About 1990 or 1991 ... some offender managed to smuggle a machete into the Youth Court and took a swipe - and I mean literally a swipe - at Judge Augusta Wallace, causing her a very serious injury. And if it hadn't been for the quick thinking and heroism of the prosecuting sergeant at the time, it could've ended very, very tragically."
Mr Harvey said that incident prompted security to be boosted and the Youth Court was reconfigured, raising the judge's bench to make it harder for people to get near them.
In his time as a judge, he said he had one incident when a mentally unstable person made comments against him and his family.
"As a result I got in touch with the court security people and we put in place a system. I won't go into the details but our security - myself and my family - was enhanced to a certain degree and that worked well.
"Nothing actually came of it but it was nice to know that people were keeping a lookout for us."
Criminal Bar Association head Noel Sainsbury said he believed there were actually remarkably few incidents given the nature of many of the people who appeared in court.
"Security is important but you do need to bear in mind that the courts deal with a huge number of cases every day and the vast majority, they proceed without incident and with commendable restraint and respect by those involved."
The Ministry of Justice has hired 31 new security officers for courts around the country, equating to 20 full-time positions.
