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New Zealand

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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.^[1]

The High Court comprises the Chief Justice of New Zealand (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.

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.

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.

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.

Rights of appeal to the High Court exist against the decisions of the District Court, the Family Court, the Youth Court and the Environment Court^[2] and numerous administrative tribunals and regulatory bodies.

The Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) and the Judicature Act 1908 (NZ) authorise the High Court to sit in Australia and the Federal Court of Australia to sit in New Zealand. Orders of the High Court sitting in Australia are enforced by the Federal Court of Australia and orders of the Federal Court sitting in New Zealand are enforced by the High Court.

1. ^ New Zealand High Court. New Zealand Ministry of Justice, Tāhū o te Ture. Retrieved on 2006-01-31.
2. ^ Decisions of the Environment Court may only be appealed to the High Court on a point of law. Section 299 Resource Management Act 1991 (New Zealand)

• The High Court of New Zealand