1 Mar 2012

Centralised court system reduces wait times - ministry

9:43 pm on 1 March 2012

The Ministry of Justice has told a Parliamentary select committee that its new centralised court system in Auckland is reducing waiting times for court hearings.

The ministry announced in 2011 that all family court and other specialised services in the Auckland region would be managed at two hubs, the Auckland and Manukau District Courts.

At the time, lawyers expressed concerns that it would be put pressure on clients having to travel long distances to court hearings.

But the ministry's chief executive Andrew Bridgman told MPs that the new system, which began operating in February, is allowing cases to be heard sooner.

He says the ministry aims to improve court times and processes in Auckland by 10%.