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Story: Judicial system

Structure of New Zealand courts

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33933-enz-update Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court CivilCourt FamilyCourt CriminalCourt YouthCourt DistrictCourt T ribunals and authorities EmploymentCourt Māori Appellate Court Courts Martial Appeal Court Māori LandCourt CourtMartial WaitangiTribunal EnvironmentCourt CoronersCourt EmploymentRelations Authority Appeal to High Court No appeal Appeal to District Court

This diagram shows the hierarchy of New Zealand courts. The Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Courts Martial Appeal Court are known as 'superior courts'. All the other courts are known as 'inferior courts', meaning they have more limited authority than the High Court.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Courts of New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Philip A. Joseph and Thomas Joseph, Judicial system – Structure of the courts, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/33933/structure-of-new-zealand-courts (accessed 7 June 2026).

Story by Philip A. Joseph and Thomas Joseph, published 25 May 2012, updated 11 October 2016.