The bill amends jury service rules to increase the age at which the Registrar has the discretion and duty to excuse a person summoned to attend as a juror.
This bill amends the Juries Act 1981 to raise the age at which a person summoned for jury service can be excused simply because of their age. At present someone aged 65 or over can be excused as of right; the bill lifts that threshold to 72. In other words, people between 65 and 71 would no longer be automatically excused just for being that age, though they could still seek excusal for other reasons such as ill health, caring responsibilities or work commitments.
It is a member's bill introduced by Carl Bates (National MP for Whanganui). Supporters argue it reflects that many New Zealanders stay active and healthy well past 65, broadens and better represents the pool of available jurors, and keeps experienced citizens contributing to an important civic duty. Opponents and submitters worried it could compel older people who face genuine health, mobility or caregiving difficulties, and questioned whether courtrooms and jury processes adequately accommodate frailer participants.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.