Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wel ington
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[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
14 February 2025
John Luke
[FYI request #29813 email]
Our ref: OIA 118918
Tēnā koe Mr Luke
Official Information Act request: Community Magistrates
Thank you for your email of 20 January 2025 to the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry),
requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), information relating to
expressions of interest sought for the appointment of Community Magistrates. Specifically,
you requested:
May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call
for public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website. Also, how many applications you have
received from the public and how many you have received from other nominating
agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for each location of your role
(separate to Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei). May I also seek a copy of the
appointment letter sent to the previous appointee (one example is sufficient), feel free
to redact any personal information. Also do you issue warrant card to the Community
Magistrates, if so, an example of the warrant card would be much appreciated.
Further, how many people you want to recruit for this round.
I noted, "After the interviews and prior to any appointment being made, selected
applicants wil be required to undertake a structured course of pre-appointment
training. Selection for this training does not constitute appointment as a Community
Magistrate." How many applicants usually wil be select for this course training. E.g.
in the last round when you want to appoint one member and how many you wil
select for training? Also, in the current round how many you are anticipate selecting
for training.
I have separated your request into parts and wil be responding to your question in turn.
1. “. .how you called for public nomination and on what platform…”
Calls for expression of interest were made via Capital Letter, The Law Association,
LawPoints and the Ministry’s website here:
Statutory vacancies | New Zealand Ministry of
Justice. Nominations were sought by the Associate Minister of Justice to caucus colleagues
by way of letter.
2. “…how many applications you have received from the public and how many you
have received from other nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc
for each location of your role (separate to Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei).”
28 applications have been received. No applications have been received from Te Puni
Kōkiri, Ministry for Women or any other similar organisations.
3. “…a copy of the appointment letter sent to the previous appointee…”
A copy of an example letter of appointment is
attached to this letter as document 1
and
released to you with some information withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the
privacy of natural persons.
4. “…do you issue warrant card to the Community Magistrates, if so, an example of the
warrant card would be much appreciated.”
Warrants are issued to people appointed as Community Magistrates. A copy of an example
warrant is
attached to this letter as document 2 and released to you with some information
withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of natural persons.
In withholding information under section 9 of the Act, the Ministry has considered the public
interest and does not consider that it outweighs withholding the information at this time.
5. “…how many people you want to recruit for this round.”
The Ministry hopes to be able to appoint three new Community Magistrates. Ideally each to
be appointed to be based in Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei.
6. “How many applicants usually wil be select for this course training. E.g. in the last
round when you want to appoint one member and how many you wil select for
training?”
Selection for training is typically made after interviewing applicants. The number of
Community Magistrates being sought for appointment wil determine the minimum number of
applicants that are likely to be selected for training. The number could be larger or smaller
based on determination of applicant suitability for the position post-interview.
A previous appointment round sought the appointment of three Community Magistrates. Five
candidates were selected for training.
7. “…in the current round how many you are anticipate selecting for training.”
A minimum of three people are likely to be selected for training (for reasons stated in the
above paragraphs). However, this wil be determined at the conclusion of the interview stage
of the appointment process. It is possible that more or less could be selected.
If you require any further information, please contact Media & Social Media Manager Joe
Locke at [email address].
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at
: Of icial Information Act responses | New Zealand Ministry of Justice
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted
by email to [email address] or by phone on 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Wayne Newall
Manager, Appointments and Specialist Functions
