Jo Hickling

Ministry of Justice - New Zealand

(Please show respect for others when commenting on this page. Comments deemed inappropriate, threatening or offensive may be removed. Persons who repeatedly use comments to threaten or offend may be banned) Justice is about fairness. It plays an essential role in keeping people safe, protecting people's rights and maintaining trust and confidence in public institutions. At the Ministry, our aim is to deliver people-centred justice services to provide access to justice for all. We lead the justice sector, working closely with the judiciary and our sector colleagues – New Zealand Police, Dept of Corrections, Crown Law and the Serious Fraud Office. Led by the Secretary for Justice and Chief Executive Andrew Kibblewhite, we have over 3000 people based throughout New Zealand from Kaitaia to Invercargill. The ministry's role is wide-ranging: •We work with the judiciary to deliver court services for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, 58 District Courts, Coroners Court, Environment Court, Employment Court and Maori Land Court. •We support 29 tribunals, authorities and committees that help New Zealanders resolve disputes. •We negotiate historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, building positive and durable settlements between the Crown and Māori. •We provide legal help to people charged with criminal offences through the Public Defence Service, the largest criminal law practice in New Zealand. •We administer the Legal Aid system which pays for legal help for those who can't afford a lawyer. •We work to reduce crime and reoffending. •We develop justice policy and provide advice to Ministers and Cabinet, which helps address a range of issues such as supporting victims, holding offenders to account and supporting human rights. •We collect court-ordered fines. •We provide 450,000 criminal conviction history checks each year, helping employers make informed decisions. •We manage over 150 pieces of legislation including the Official Information Act.