1 Title
Part 1Supreme Court of New Zealand
Preliminary matters
2 Commencement
3 Purpose
4 Interpretation
5 Act binds the Crown
Establishment and jurisdiction of Supreme Court
6 Supreme Court established
7 Appeals against decisions of Court of Appeal in civil proceedings
8 Appeals against decisions of High Court in civil proceedings
9 Appeals against decisions of other courts in civil proceedings
10 Appeals against decisions in criminal proceedings
11 Procedural requirements
Leave to appeal to Court
12 Appeals to be by leave
13 Criteria for leave to appeal
14 No direct appeal from court other than Court of Appeal unless exceptional circumstances established
15 Applications for leave
16 Court to state reasons for refusal to give leave
Constitution of Court
17 Constitution of Court
18 Chief Justice, and seniority of Judges
19 Acting Chief Justice
20 Judges to be Judges of High Court
21 Judges of other courts vacate office on appointment
22 Term of office of Judges
23 Acting Judges
Powers and judgment of Court
24 Appeals to proceed by rehearing
25 General powers
26 Power to remit proceedings
27 Exercise of powers of Court
28 Interlocutory orders and directions may be made and given by one Judge
29 Presiding Judge
30 Procedure if Judges absent
31 Judgment of Court
32 Decisions of Court may be enforced by High Court
Administrative provisions
33 Salaries and allowances of Judges
34 Fees to be paid into Crown Bank Account
35 Contempt of Court
36 Appointment of officers
37 Powers and duties of officers
38 Seal
39 Regulations
40 Reviews of decisions of Registrars about fees
41 Technical advisers
Ending of appeals to Her Majesty in Council
42 Ending of appeals to Her Majesty in Council
Part 2Amendments, repeals, transitional provisions, and savings
Substantive amendments to Judicature Act 1908
43 New sections 4A and 4B of Judicature Act 1908 inserted
4A Chief High Court Judge
4B Functions of Chief High Court Judge
44 Constitution of the Court
45 Technical advisers
Substantive amendment to Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993
46 New sections 58A and 58B inserted
58A Further appeal to Court of Appeal from Maori Appellate Court
58B Direct appeal to Supreme Court from Maori Appellate Court in exceptional circumstances
Other substantive amendments
47 Other substantive amendments
Consequential amendments and repeals
48 Consequential amendments and repeals
49 Imperial enactments ceasing to have effect in New Zealand
Transitional and savings
50 Privy Council may still determine appeals in certain existing proceedings
51 Limitation on right to appeal to Supreme Court in certain existing proceedings
52 Transitional effect of sections 42 and 49
53 Transitional arrangements for leave applications
54 No new rights of appeal against decisions made before 1 January 2004
55 Hearings not to begin before 1 July 2004
Schedule 1Amendments
Schedule 2Consequential repeals
Schedule 3Provisions containing references to former Supreme Court
Schedule 4Imperial legislation ceasing to have effect as part of law of New Zealand
Legislative history
The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows: