Story: Judicial system

Letters patent, 1840

The first courts in New Zealand were established under the authority of Queen Victoria in the letters patent of 1840. This document gave the governor power to appoint judges.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: IA 9 6

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Philip A. Joseph and Thomas Joseph, Judicial system – History of the courts, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/33959/letters-patent-1840 (accessed 4 June 2026).

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

Comments

Peter
07 September 2023

I can't help but notice your site obscures the full Letters Patent of Victoria by not providing an unobscured view of the First page of the Charter of 1840 of Victoria, by the Grace of God. Now why should you do that in your capacity, to the people of New Zealand? Tell me.