Coroners Act 2006

Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths - Inquiries

57A: Recommendations or comments by coroners

You could also call this:

"Coroners can make comments to help prevent similar deaths"

You can get recommendations or comments from a coroner during an inquiry into a death. They can make these comments to help stop similar deaths from happening again. The coroner must explain how their comments might help prevent more deaths. You will see that the coroner's recommendations are based on what they found out during the inquiry. They must also show how their comments are connected to what caused the death. The coroner has to say how making their comments public might reduce the chances of similar deaths. The coroner's comments are made to reduce the chances of further deaths in similar circumstances, as seen in the Coroners Amendment Act 2016. The coroner must give a clear explanation for their comments. This helps you understand why the coroner is making these comments.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6906441.

This page was last updated on 12 December 2025 — View changes

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57: Purposes of inquiries, or

"Why coroners investigate deaths"

57B: Coroner must consult certain persons or organisations on recommendations or comments, or

"The coroner must ask certain people for their thoughts before making a comment or recommendation."

Part 3Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths
Inquiries

57ARecommendations or comments by coroners

A responsible coroner may make recommendations or comments in the course of, or as part of the findings of, an inquiry into a death.
Recommendations or comments may be made only for the purpose of reducing the chances of further deaths occurring in circumstances similar to those in which the death occurred.
Recommendations or comments must—
be clearly linked to the factors that contributed to the death to which the inquiry relates; and
be based on evidence considered during the inquiry; and
be accompanied by an explanation of how the recommendation or comment may, if drawn to public attention, reduce the chances of further deaths occurring in similar circumstances.

Notes

Section 57A: inserted, on 21 July 2016, by section 36 of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).