Ministry of Justice moves with urgency on PIR findings

The PIR was released today by the Public Service Commission and makes 17 recommendations aimed at ensuring the Ministry is positioned to meet the significant operational, organisational and system challenges ahead. 

“I am proud that the Review found that the Ministry has passionate and talented people who care deeply about the effective and efficient operations of our courts and the quality of the court and tribunal experience for all its participants,” Mr Kibblewhite says. 

“The Review also notes some progress has been made in recent years in improving backlogs and timeliness in the courts, recognising that this achievement has been hard won and has put a lot of pressure on the judiciary, frontline staff and everyone who works in the courts.   

“Looking forward, however, the Review highlights that New Zealand’s justice system faces increasingly difficult challenges and will have to change.  The inflow and complexity of cases in courts and tribunals is increasing, workforce constraints are real and the tight fiscal environment has taken a toll. 

“The Review concludes that the way we work currently is not sustainable and I agree. As chief executive I accept the findings and I will ensure the recommendations are implemented,” Mr Kibblewhite says. 

“We are already making significant changes including the digital caseflow management system, Te Au Reka, which will transform the administration of our courts, as well as developing a range of high-impact and immediate changes through the Accessible and Affordable Justice programme. 

“Implementation of Te Au Reka for the Family Court begins on 23 November and we’re incredibly excited about this change. Te Au Reka is probably the biggest and most complex digitally based change process in New Zealand. It will create many opportunities to improve the way the justice system operates.  

“We are also working with the judiciary to reimagine how the court and tribunal system can work and to design more effective pathways for New Zealanders as they take their issues through the justice system.” 

Mr Kibblewhite says the Review also identifies some wider issues around leadership, decision-making, accountability and organisational culture within the Ministry. 

“These are sobering and challenging insights. I am committed to fronting them with the whole organisation and delivering the necessary changes,” he says. 

“The Review challenges us to be less hierarchical and defensive, more open to challenge and different perspectives, and clearer about how we manage rather than avoid risk, to ensure all our people feel safe to speak up. I accept those findings,” Mr Kibblewhite says. 

“In many respects, the Review shines a light on challenges the Ministry already had in its sights. We have had improving engagement survey results in many of the areas the reviewers comment on, but we clearly have more work to do.   

“We are putting the Review and its recommendations at the centre of our work programme.  Our business plan is being reworked to ensure the recommendations are prioritised and progressed.” 

The Review outlines the sheer scale of the work the Ministry of Justice carries out within its operating expenditure of approximately $1.9 billion. 

During 2025/26, the Ministry supported nearly one million District Court events, processed around 100,000 legal aid applications, answered more than 1.2 million contact centre calls, completed around 80,000 transcription requests and processed 16,300 interpreter requests.

Court security staff screened more than 2.9 million visitors, while Collections Services collected $261 million in fines, reparation and legal aid debt. 

“My focus is not to simply respond to each of the recommendations. It is to achieve meaningful, lasting improvement in how the Ministry leads, engages, plans and delivers,” Mr Kibblewhite says. 

“We are moving with urgency. The first actions are underway. We will regularly update Ministers, the Public Service Commission, the Judiciary and our sector partners as work progresses. 

“As chief executive I take responsibility for leading change that creates a more effective and sustainable justice system and a stronger Ministry that embraces change and innovation.”