NEW ZEALAND BAR ASSOCIATION
MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday 16 October 2001
Increases In Court Fees Harmful And Contrary To Advice
The New Zealand Bar Association remains most concerned at the Government’s decision to maintain very significant
increases in civil court fees, in some cases by more than 300%.
The latest decision flies in the face of measured and sensible advice and can only be seen as unconscionable revenue
grabbing. The Bar Association intends to pursue a challenge to the regulations introducing these new court fees, with
Parliament’s Regulations Review Committee.
When the Government first announced its intention to increase court fees from 1 July 2001, it was met with significant
protests that higher court fees would create a new barrier to access to justice. The increases were deferred and the
Government appointed a working party to consider the impact of increased court fees.
That working party, with broad sectional representation, and after extensive work, recommended that the proposed
increases were unacceptable and should not proceed. The working party recognised that access to justice is a fundamental
right and although there should be some private contribution to the costs of the courts, there is a larger public
responsibility.
The NZBA sees in the Government’s rejection of those views a conscious preparedness to impede access to the courts for
the sake of greater cost recoveries. Given the importance of access to the courts, this has serious constitutional
consequences.
The impact of this new barrier to access to justice will not be significantly lessened by certain exemptions or by the
enactment of the Court Fees (Waivers) Act. On any view, the harm done to the New Zealand justice system far outweighs
the relatively modest increase in cost recoveries that will be achieved.
ENDS