New Zealand Legislation: Acts

66 Which coroner conducts inquiry

• (1) An inquiry the High Court or Solicitor-General orders to be opened under any of sections 95 to 97 is conducted by—

  • (a) the coroner specified in the order under that section; or

  • (b) the coroner authorised by the chief coroner if the order concerned specifies that the inquiry is to be opened and conducted by a coroner authorised by the chief coroner.

  (2) Every other inquiry is conducted by the coroner to whom the death concerned has been reported under section 15(2)(a) or section 16(2)(b) (coroner A) unless under subsection (3) the chief coroner authorises a coroner other than coroner A to conduct the inquiry, in which case the other coroner conducts the inquiry instead of coroner A.

  (3) The chief coroner may authorise a coroner other than coroner A to conduct an inquiry to which subsection (2) applies if the chief coroner is satisfied that—

  • (a) coroner A has a personal interest in the inquiry; or

  • (b) it is necessary or desirable that coroner A not conduct the inquiry because of his or her workload, or his or her expertise or lack of expertise in particular areas; or

  • (c) there is some other good reason why coroner A should not conduct the inquiry.

  Compare: 1988 No 111 s 22