Specialist Criminal Courts

District Court Judges are involved in a number of specialist criminal courts. These include: the Alcohol and other Drug Treatment Court/Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua; the Family Violence Court; the New Beginning Court/Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou; the Matariki Court; and the Court of Special Circumstances.

 

A defence lawyer and her client embrace at the conclusion of a hearing before Judge Bill Hastings (background) in Wellington's Court of Special Circumstances

Please note that these courts are not available in all parts of New Zealand, and not all defendants will be able to access these courts.

• Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court

  © Radio New Zealand.  Te Whare Whakapiki WairuaThe adult Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court was established in 2012 to pilot an innovative approach to offending…

• New Beginnings Court

  Te Kooti o Timatanga HouThe New Beginnings Court in Auckland deals with offenders who are homeless. The Court currently sits once a month. The aim…

• Matariki Court

  Matariki: Huarahi ki te oranga tangataThe Matariki Court is based in Kaikohe, Northland. Where a person pleads guilty to an offence, but before the court…

• Court of Special Circumstances

  In Wellington Judge Bill Hastings heads the Special Circumstances Court. Established in March 2012 by then-District Court Judge, Justice Susan Thomas, the Court of Special Circumstances…