Most cities and large towns have a District Court — they exist in courthouses and hearing centres around New Zealand.

Jurisdiction of District Courts

The District Court is divided into 4 main specialties:

Civil

Criminal

Youth

Family

Find a District Court

Under ‘Court, tribunal or other’:

1. choose ‘District Court’
2. select a location
3. click ‘Search’.

Find us: District Courts — Ministry of Justice (MOJ)

File documents to a District Court

Where to file your documents

You must file your documents to the correct court. This may be the court nearest to you, but sometimes it can be a court in another suburb or town, depending on the type of case.

Where to file documents — MOJ

How to file your documents

You can usually file your documents in person, by post or electronically.

• By person or by post: Find us — MOJ
• Online: File and pay — Courts of New Zealand

Requirements for filing

There a various requirements you need to follow when filing your documents to a District Court. Learn more on the Ministry of Justice website.

Requirements for filing documents — MOJ

Payment and costs

The fees you pay depend on the court you are going through. You may be able to get help to pay some court fees depending on your situation. Visit the Ministry of Justice website for more information.

• Court fees for civil & family court cases
• Apply for help to pay the court fees for a civil or family case