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201: Seniority
or “This explains how judges are ranked based on when they were appointed and if they are permanent or temporary.”
You could also call this:

“When the Chief Judge is away or can't work, the oldest judge takes over and does the Chief Judge's job.”

When there’s no Chief Judge or if they’re away from New Zealand, the most experienced judge in the court takes over. This senior judge can do everything the Chief Judge usually does.

If the Chief Judge can’t do their job because they’re sick or for any other reason (except being out of New Zealand), the Governor-General can let the senior judge step in. The senior judge can then do all the Chief Judge’s tasks until the Chief Judge is able to work again.

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Next up: 203: Judges to have immunities of High Court Judges

or “Judges are protected from getting in trouble for doing their job, just like important judges in bigger courts.”
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Part 10 Institutions
Judges of the court

202Senior Judge to act as Chief Judge in certain circumstances

  1. While any vacancy exists in the office of Chief Judge, or during any absence from New Zealand of the Chief Judge, the senior Judge of the court in New Zealand has authority to act as Chief Judge and to execute the duties of that office and to exercise all powers that may be lawfully exercised by the Chief Judge.

  2. Whenever by reason of illness or any cause other than absence from New Zealand the Chief Judge is prevented from exercising the duties of the office, the Governor-General may authorise the senior Judge of the court to act as Chief Judge until the Chief Judge resumes those duties, and during that period to execute the duties of that office and to exercise all powers that may be lawfully exercised by the Chief Judge.

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  • 1991 No 22 s 114