12 December 2012
Court services revamp comes at a cost to provincial NZ

The Public Service Association says a revamp of court services comes at a cost to provincial New Zealand.

The Minister for Courts has today confirmed an earlier proposal to close four courts and downsize another nine.

Those closing are Whataroa, Feilding, Warkworth and Upper Hutt, while Dargaville, Waihi, Te Awamutu, Te Kuiti, Opotiki, Marton, Waipukurau , Oamaru and Balclutha will be reduced to hearing courts only.

The PSA says around 35 jobs will be lost affecting many long-serving and specialist court staff who are known to their communities. The removal of fully operational courthouses will also impact on local policing and legal services.

“While the government is claiming it is trying to deliver more modern justice through better technology, I think many of these communities would strongly argue that their access to essential services is being diminished and valuable jobs are being lost from the regions,” says PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

“It’s difficult to balance technological advances with the needs of communities but many people don’t feel they have access to computers or the means to travel long distances to get the services they require. Smaller communities clearly value having local services available but instead are facing the continued withdrawal of vital face-to-face public services.”

Another part of the restructure of court services will see greater regionalisation at the management level.

Richard Wagstaff says while it appears there won’t be any real net job loss from this aspect of the restructure, many positions are being disestablished in provincial areas with new roles being created primarily in the main centres.

“It means many staff in the smaller regional centres will now be faced with little option but to relocate and compete with their colleagues for the new positions.”

“Once again it’s provincial New Zealand which is bearing the brunt of public sector restructuring,” he says.”

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