High Court Criminal trials workload statistics

High Court - criminal trial case volumes - for the 12 months ending 31 December 2023

Registry   New Business Disposals Total Active
as at 31/12/23
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau 44 52 67
Whangarei Whangārei-terenga-parāoa 17 11 16
Rotorua                    Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe 26 24 25
Hamilton Kirikiriroa 14 20 12
Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara 11 12 12
Napier Ahuriri 5 8 2
Palmerston North Te Papaioea 5 7 4
Whanganui Whanganui 2 8 0
Gisborne Tūranganui-a-Kiwa 0 3 2
New Plymouth Ngāmotu 2 3 6
Nelson Whakatū 4 2 2
Blenheim Te Waiharakeke 1 0 1
Christchurch Ōtautahi 11 13 22
Timaru Te Tihi-o-Maru 1 4 3
Dunedin Ōtepoti 9 8 4
Invercargill Waihōpai 15 15 4
Greymouth Māwhera 0 0 0
National Total   167 190 182

Definitions

New business

HC criminal trials

New business includes cases arriving in High Court for trial, cases where a retrial has been directed, split cases and cases transferred into the High Court under s 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.

Disposals at completion of sentencing or earlier outcome

HC criminal trials

Disposals are counted at the completion of sentencing, or at an earlier final outcome. Cases are disposed when sentencing or final outcomes are established on all charges, or when all active charges are joined into another case. Disposals are recorded in the categories of: Convicted and Sentenced, Found Not Guilty, Convicted and Discharged, Discharged Section 147, Not Proceeded With, Joined and Other Outcome.

Total active cases - all cases awaiting substantive hearing, verdict/plea, awaiting sentencing or final outcome

HC criminal trials

Active cases are those cases that are proceeding to or awaiting a jury trial, judge-alone trial, sentencing or final outcome.