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Coroners Act 2006

Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths - Inquiries

65: Coroner may decide to open inquiry despite initial decision

You could also call this:

"A coroner can change their mind and investigate a death even if they first said no."

Illustration for Coroners Act 2006

You can be involved in a situation where a coroner first decides not to investigate a death. The coroner can change their mind and decide to investigate if they get new information. They can do this even if they initially decided not to. You might want to look at Clause 14 of Schedule 3 and section 20 of the Coroners Act 1988 to learn more about this. The coroner has the power to start an investigation after deciding not to hold an inquest. This can happen if the coroner gets new information or for any other reason.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM377801.

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64: Duties of coroner who decides not to open inquiry, or

"What a coroner must do if they decide not to investigate a death"

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Part 3Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths
Inquiries

65Coroner may decide to open inquiry despite initial decision

  1. A coroner who, after deciding not to open an inquiry, becomes satisfied (whether because of information not available at the time of deciding, or for any other reason) that it is desirable to open an inquiry into the death concerned, may do so.

  2. Clause 14 of Schedule 3 empowers a coroner to open an inquiry under this section following a decision under section 20 of the Coroners Act 1988 not to hold an inquest.

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