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Senior Courts Act 2016

Supreme Court - Constitution of Supreme Court

66: Supreme Court continued

You could also call this:

"The Supreme Court keeps working to hear important cases."

Illustration for Senior Courts Act 2016

You have a Supreme Court in New Zealand that hears important appeal cases. The Supreme Court deals with matters like the Treaty of Waitangi. It used to be that these cases would be decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. You have a Chief Justice and at least 4 other Judges in the Supreme Court. The Governor-General appoints these Judges. The Supreme Court is a special kind of court called a court of record. If there is a vacancy in the Supreme Court, it does not affect the Court's ability to hear cases. The Supreme Court can still make decisions even if there is a empty position.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM5759403.

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Part 4Supreme Court
Constitution of Supreme Court

66Supreme Court continued

  1. There continues to be a Supreme Court of New Zealand for the hearing of appeals in New Zealand on important legal matters, including matters relating to the Treaty of Waitangi, which would formerly have been determined by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

  2. The Supreme Court consists of—

  3. the Chief Justice; and
    1. no fewer than 4 nor more than 5 other Judges appointed by the Governor-General as Judges of the Supreme Court.

      1. The Supreme Court is a court of record.

      2. The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is not affected by a vacancy in its membership.

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