Modernising New Zealand’s court facilities

Many of the country’s busiest court facilities were no longer fit for the way modern courts needed to operate.

Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington District Courts faced a range of operational and infrastructure challenges that were affecting the efficiency, safety and user experience of the justice system. Courtrooms were often poorly configured, with inconsistent audiovisual capability, outdated layouts and limited flexibility to support modern court operations.

Building layouts made navigation difficult for staff and visitors, while poor circulation and inadequate separation between the judiciary, defendants, victims and the public created operational inefficiencies and security risks. In Hamilton, growing demand had outstripped available capacity, resulting in shortages of courtrooms, meeting rooms, holding cells and administrative space. In Wellington, inefficient building configuration led to underutilised areas alongside space constraints elsewhere.

These issues highlighted the need for a coordinated redevelopment programme that would improve functionality, enhance security, optimise space and deliver facilities capable of supporting the future needs of New Zealand's justice system.