19 May 2005
Hon Phil Goff - Minister of Justice
$156.5 million to ease Courts, justice pressures
Pressure on Court services and justice policy work will be eased by additional funding of $156.5 million over the next
four years, says Justice Minister Phil Goff.
"A baseline review of the Ministry of Justice's operations, carried out last year, found that considerable additional
resources were needed to manage a workload that has grown substantially in recent years," Mr Goff said.
"Funding in Budget 2005 will enable the Ministry to invest in staff and infrastructure to deliver more efficient court
services, especially in high-volume courts that are experiencing delays in processing cases."
Major aspects of the allocation include:
„h $25.2 million for court operations;
„h $17 million on catch-up maintenance to improve facilities for court users;
„h $59 million on upgrading IT infrastructure and capability;
„h $14 million on policy development; and,
„h $25.3 million on staff and management resources.
"The funding will be targeted at streamlining court processes and improving the timeliness of hearings through better
scheduling and technology. More resources will be put into training management and staff in decision-making; the
judiciary will gain enhanced research assistance and administrative support, and all court users can expect clearer
information," Mr Goff said.
"The Ministry's capacity to undertake more policy work, and advise government on emerging social issues and
international developments impacting on future policy decisions will also be strengthened. A well-functioning justice
system is the foundation of a healthy democracy, and this government is committed to ensuring that all New Zealanders
involved in the justice system find it fair and accessible.
"Improvements have been made already in the delivery of services since the Ministry merged with the Department of Courts
18 months ago, and today's announcement will ensure those improvements continue," Mr Goff said.
ENDS