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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Juries Act 1981

Jury lists and panels

9: Preparation of jury lists

You could also call this:

"How jury lists are made for court cases"

Illustration for Juries Act 1981

The chief executive can ask the Electoral Commission to prepare a jury list for one or more jury districts. You need to know the chief executive must tell the Electoral Commission how many names to include and when the list is needed. The Electoral Commission then makes a list of people who live in the area and are on the electoral roll. The Electoral Commission picks names randomly from the electoral roll for each jury district. They make sure the list only includes people who are registered to vote and live in the area. The list cannot include people who have asked for their name and address to be kept private under section 115 of the Electoral Act 1993. The Electoral Commission follows these rules to prepare the jury list. You can find more information about the rules in the Juries Act 1981. The chief executive and the Electoral Commission work together to prepare the jury list.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM44689.

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Topics:
Crime and justice > Courts and legal help
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8: Certain persons not to serve, or

"Some people cannot do jury service, like judges, politicians, and police officers."

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10: Jury lists sent to chief executive, or

"The Electoral Commission sends jury lists to the boss of the area."

9Preparation of jury lists

  1. Whenever the chief executive considers it expedient he or she may ask the Electoral Commission to prepare a jury list for 1 or more jury districts.

  2. In relation to each jury list requested under subclause (1), the chief executive must advise the Electoral Commission of—

  3. the number of names to be included in the jury list; and
    1. the date by which the list is required.

      1. The Electoral Commission must, for each jury district, prepare a jury list containing a random selection of the names of people who, according to the electoral roll, reside in the jury district and are registered as electors.

      2. A jury list must not contain the name of any person in respect of whom a direction is in force under section 115 of the Electoral Act 1993 that their name and address not be published.

      Notes
      • Section 9: replaced, on , by section 7 of the Juries Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 2).
      • Section 9(1): amended, on , by section 57(4) of the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 57).
      • Section 9(2): amended, on , by section 57(4) of the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 57).
      • Section 9(3): amended, on , by section 57(4) of the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 57).
      • Section 9(4): replaced, on , by section 141 of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).