New developments and current projects

Last updated 25 February 2025

What's new

  • Costs for Self-Represented Litigants:  Changes to the rules that allow self-represented litigants to claim costs took effect on 1 September 2024.  More information, including consultation papers and submissions, can be found on the project page or see the August 2024 media statement where the Chair of the Rules Committee comments on the changes.
  • Improving Access to Civil Justice — fourth consultation:  The Rules Committee did, in August 2024, receive comments from previous submitters on its implementation of proposed changes to the High Court Rules 2016 to improve access to civil justice. For more information, see the project page.
  • Improving Access to Civil Justice — Report:  In November 2022, the Rules Committee published a report on barriers to access to justice in civil proceedings.  The report was informed by significant community consultation and made recommendations to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
  • Re-establishment of the Criminal Rules Sub-committee:  The Sub-committee is made up of judges, practitioners and Ministry of Justice staff with experience in the criminal jurisdiction and advises the Rules Committee on changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2012.  It was re-established in 2023.  See the minutes of its meetings here.

If you are interested in details of the Committee's recent decisions, see the minutes of its previous meetings under "Committee Minutes".  For information about previous consultations undertaken by the Committee, click through to the current and previous consultation paper page.

Current Major Projects

The Rules Committee continuously reviews the rules in light of national and overseas developments. It monitors Australian and United Kingdom reports and reforms to identify areas where New Zealand could adopt or adapt ideas.

Below are a number of areas in which the Committee is currently undertaking significant reviews of the rules of practice and procedure. The list is not exhaustive, and does not refer to the numerous smaller matters of a more technical and detailed nature the Committee regularly addresses (such as out-dated cross-references, apparent typographical errors, and changes to lesser used specialised procedures).

The review process is a perpetual one. The Committee welcomes comments and enquiries from the profession and the public about existing projects or other concerns relating to procedural rules which it is thought should be brought to the Committee’s attention.

  • Improving Access to Civil Justice:  The Committee has been undertaking a work programme to address the expense associated with bringing civil claims in both the High Court and the District Court.  For more information, including on the incoming changes to civil procedure in the High Court, see the project page and the record of the Committee's discussions in the minutes from previous meetings under "Committee Minutes".
  • Changes to the Court of Appeal (Criminal) Rules
  • Applicability of the Code of Conduct to expert witnesses in civil cases with expertise in tikanga and mātauranga
  • Applicability of the Code of Conduct to expert witnesses in criminal cases

 

Suggested rule changes or feedback

The Committee welcomes suggestions on any court rules that need updating, whether that would involve small tweaks or large scale reform.  Should you wish to make a suggestion, please send a letter/memorandum to the Clerk to the Rules Committee by email or post.  Contact details can be found here.  If you send in a memorandum, the Rules Committee may publish it on this website unless you state in your memorandum that you would like it to remain confidential.

The Committee also welcomes feedback on any of the above or other issues relating to rules relating to the practice and procedure of the Courts. Please direct any comments to the Clerk. 

Making submissions on consultation papers

Any submissions to consultation papers should be directed to the Clerk to the Rules Committee by email or post.  Contact details can be found here.  Again, in the interests of increasing communication and transparency, the Rules Committee may publish on this website submissions and comments received as part of the consultation process.

To see current and past consultations by the Committee in more detail, see the consultation page.