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Coroners Act 2006

Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths - Inquests

90: Evidence by written statement confirmed by witness

You could also call this:

"Giving evidence in writing and confirming it's true"

Illustration for Coroners Act 2006

You can give evidence at an inquest by reading a written statement you prepared earlier. You must confirm the statement is true by taking an oath or making an affirmation. The coroner must agree that it's not necessary for you to give the evidence orally. You can do this if no one at the inquest who is allowed to ask you questions objects. If you give evidence this way, you can still be asked questions as if you were giving the evidence orally. Your written statement becomes part of the inquest records, which are called depositions. You can see how this rule has changed over time by looking at the Coroners Act 1988. This will help you understand how the law has developed. The law is always changing, so it's good to check the latest version.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM377833.

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Part 3Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths
Inquests

90Evidence by written statement confirmed by witness

  1. A witness at an inquest may give any evidence by tendering a previously prepared written statement and confirming it on oath or affirmation if—

  2. the coroner is satisfied that there is no reason making it desirable for the witness to give the evidence orally; and
    1. no person attending the inquest who is entitled to cross-examine the witness objects.

      1. A witness who gives evidence at an inquest under subsection (1) may be cross-examined as if it had been given orally; and the written statement concerned forms part of the depositions of the inquest.

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