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Courts Minister Nicole McKee says the District Court has recorded its largest ever reduction in the criminal case backlog, with a 22 percent drop over the past year.
In December 2024, there were 7,133 cases waiting to be heard. By December 2025, that number had fallen to 5,571, a reduction of 1,562 cases.
“This means at least 1,562 fewer victims waiting for their day in court to see justice delivered,” McKee said.
She said the improvement reflected a whole-of-sector effort involving the judiciary, court staff, the legal profession and agencies including Police and Corrections.
The minister said timeliness initiatives first introduced in Auckland metro courts are now reflected nationally. Changes have included revised rostering and scheduling to direct judicial resources to courts with the largest backlogs, improved trial preparedness and fewer unnecessary adjournments.
Performance reporting has also been strengthened, with a sharper focus on timely justice across the criminal jurisdiction.
McKee said the Family Court backlog had also improved, with a 9 percent decrease over the same period – equivalent to around 850 applications.
She said upcoming legislative reforms, including expanding Community Magistrates’ powers, increasing remote participation in court and improving jury selection processes, would further support faster justice.
“For victims, delays can mean prolonged stress, uncertainty and trauma,” McKee said.
