New Zealand Legislation: Acts

9 Assignment and rostering of District Court Judges

• (1) The Chief District Court Judge shall be responsible for ensuring the orderly and expeditious discharge of the business of District Courts throughout New Zealand, and accordingly may, after consultation with the Principal Family Court Judge and the Principal Youth Court Judge, give all such directions as are contemplated by subsection (2).

  (2) Each Judge shall sit in such jurisdictions at such times as the Chief District Court Judge may from time to time direct.

  (3) The fact that a Judge sits in any particular court shall be conclusive evidence of his or her authority so to do, and no exercise of any jurisdiction or power by a Judge shall be questioned on the ground that he or she was not authorised to sit in the court where the jurisdiction or power was so exercised.

  (4) The reference in subsection (2) to jurisdictions means—

  • (a) the ordinary civil and criminal jurisdiction of District Courts, including common law and equitable jurisdiction and admiralty jurisdiction:

  • (b) the specialist jurisdiction of District Courts by virtue of the constitution of Family Courts and Youth Courts as divisions of District Courts.

  (5) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that the power conferred by this section on the Chief District Court Judge does not include the power to give directions in relation to any District Court Judge who for the time being presides over, or holds office as a member of, or holds office as, a tribunal.

  Section 9: substituted, on 2 September 1996, by section 3(1) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 119).