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Coroners Act 2006

Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths - Completion of inquiries

94: Certificate of and written reasons for findings

You could also call this:

"What the coroner decides and why after looking at all the evidence"

Illustration for Coroners Act 2006

When a coroner finishes an inquiry, they must think about all the evidence. They must complete a certificate of findings as soon as possible, considering the purposes stated in section 57. The coroner signs the certificate. The coroner does not have to make findings about the death if they think it is not in the public interest, despite what section 57(2)(e) says. The certificate of findings must be in an approved form and state the reasons for the findings in writing. The certificate may be different from any interim findings. The coroner must send the completed certificate to the Secretary with all the evidence and other documents. This includes a certificate of the registration of the death and any recommendations made under section 57A. The coroner must also give a copy of the certificate to the chief coroner and all interested parties.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM377838.

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Part 3Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths
Completion of inquiries

94Certificate of and written reasons for findings

  1. The coroner conducting and completing an inquiry must—

  2. consider all the evidence admitted for the purposes of the inquiry; and
    1. as soon as is reasonably practicable, and in light of the purposes stated in section 57, complete and sign a certificate of findings in relation to the death concerned.

      1. Despite section 57(2)(e), the coroner is not required to make findings in relation to the circumstances of the death concerned if the coroner considers there is no public interest in doing so.

      2. The certificate of findings must be in an approved form, which must require the coroner to state in writing the reasons for his or her findings.

      3. The certificate of findings may differ from, and once issued supersedes, any certificate of interim findings issued by a coroner in relation to the death concerned.

      4. The coroner must send the completed and signed certificate of findings to the Secretary, together with—

      5. all depositions of evidence admitted for the purposes of the inquiry; and
        1. a certificate of the registration of the death (if applicable); and
          1. any recommendations or comments made under section 57A.

              1. The coroner must provide a copy of the completed and signed certificate of findings, together with any recommendations or comments, to—

              2. the chief coroner; and
                1. all interested parties.

                  Compare
                  Notes
                  • Section 94(1): replaced, on , by section 53(1) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).
                  • Section 94(1A): inserted, on , by section 14(1) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 8).
                  • Section 94(2): amended, on , by section 14(2) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 8).
                  • Section 94(3): amended, on , by section 14(3) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 8).
                  • Section 94(4)(c): replaced, on , by section 53(2) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).
                  • Section 94(4)(d): repealed, on , by section 53(2) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).
                  • Section 94(5): inserted, on , by section 53(3) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).