Ministry of Justice publishes Long-Term Insights Briefing

Ministry of Justice publishes Long-Term Insights Briefing

The Ministry of Justice has released its second Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB) on The Future Operation of Courts and Justice Services, outlining six strategic choices to make courts more accessible, efficient, and resilient over the next 20 years.

The Ministry’s LTIB is a “think piece” that shares insights on challenges and opportunities that may affect the future operation of courts in Aotearoa New Zealand. LTIBs can help guide future thinking and work, but don’t make policy recommendations.  

Secretary for Justice Andrew Kibblewhite says public consultation confirmed that the draft LTIB identified the right areas for future consideration.

“It was heartening to see feedback on the LTIB indicate that New Zealand’s courts and justice services generally work effectively. However, there were concerns about the timeliness of justice, and that the court system is under-resourced and over-burdened,” Mr Kibblewhite says. 

The LTIB examines costs, user experience, and trends such as New Zealand’s growing, ageing, and diversifying population, which will affect court operations, and the level of support people need when accessing justice services. 

The six strategic choices for decision-makers identified in the LTIB are: 

Consultation highlighted accessibility and victims’ experiences, with calls for simpler processes and more in-court support.