Wilkinson Kate: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Wilkinson Kate: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:633;Page:5298] 
10.  
KATE WILKINSON (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Courts 
: Does he agree that justice delayed is justice denied; if not why not? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister for Courts) 
: 
 I do not agree with the member’s assertion; it depends on who caused the delay and for what purpose. 
Kate Wilkinson 
: How can the Minister justify his answer in the House on 29 August that this Government is “doing heaps” by increasing the number of High Court judges in Auckland and Wellington only and only by three; and how does this help the High Court in Christchurch where the median waiting time for trials has ballooned from 143 days to 203 days or the High Court in Gisborne where it has gone from 109 days to 262 days—or are Christchurch and Gisborne at the bottom of the heap and not considered for his queue reduction strategy? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: The increase in the number of High Court judges represents a 10 percent increase. While it is true that High Court cases have increased by approximately 63 percent over the last 5 years in actual fact the waiting time has increased by only 20 days. Many courts have in actual fact had a decrease. The member picks and chooses her statistics. 
Martin Gallagher 
: In terms of the previous answer what is the Minister doing to review and improve court processes and how does that compare with work done previously? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: This Government has invested substantially in courts. We have put $165 million into them. We have tidied up court buildings we have built new courts and we have put in an information technology structure. It is completely different from the case we inherited where we had a paper-based system dilapidated courts underfunded courts an inadequate numbers of judges inadequate staff and no staff training. We have made a dramatic turn-round. 
Kate Wilkinson 
: How can the Minister expect us to believe that “the challenges are being addressed” or “staff numbers have increased” when in the South Island court staff numbers have not increased by one person at all for 3 years—or is access to justice in the South Island not a priority for this Government? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I can justify it quite easily by pointing out to the member that of the many good statistics criminal summary cases across New Zealand have decreased by 20 percent. Secondly if the member was watching she would have seen that I put out a press statement recently saying that the number of staff in the Christchurch court has been increased. 
Kate Wilkinson 
: How can he justify his answer in the House on 29 August that “It is very easy to go and find a court here and a court there that has an increase in its queue.” when median waiting-times for High Court jury trials in each and every South Island High Court have increased; and how can 100 percent of South Island High Courts be brushed off as “a court here and a court there”? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: In terms of High Court cases outstanding in the civil jurisdiction Rotorua has had a reduction of 55 percent Timaru a reduction of 50 percent Napier a reduction of 41 percent Dunedin a reduction of 40 percent and Palmerston North a reduction of 22 percent—I could go on. There are substantial reductions in many many registries including in the South Island. 
Kate Wilkinson 
: Which statement does the Minister stand by: the one he made in the  
Otago Daily Times 
 of 18 August that “Better use was being made of settlement conferences and mediations in civil matters” or his response to written question No. 11333 provided on 31 August that “Mediations in Civil proceedings occur outside the Court system. The number and proportion of civil proceedings settled by way of a mediation is unknown …”—or does he just not know? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: The member confuses both of the issues. 
Kate Wilkinson 
: Is mediation then just another euphemism for dumping cases off the court waiting list or will cases be referred back to the lawyer no doubt for further legal action on the basis that justice delayed is justice denied? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Mediation is a very important tool in resolving issues and very often cases are resolved in mediation without the cost of a lengthy trial and to the satisfaction of both parties. If there is no satisfaction the case goes to trial. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I seek leave to table a copy of the Magna Carta. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection. 
Hon David Benson-Pope 
: I seek leave to table an article in today’s  
Timaru Herald 
 entitled: “Goodhew accused of misleading electorate”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I seek leave to table the Bill of Rights 1688 which the Minister of Justice has today repudiated. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.