This omnibus bill amends the Courts (Remote Participation) Act to expand the use of remote and audio participation in court proceedings. It makes permanent a temporary pandemic-era change clarifying that remote participation is consistent with open justice.
Parliament advanced this bill under urgency (first reading) — moving it through faster than usual, with less time than normal for public submissions.
These are claims MPs made in Parliament’s debate — not verified facts.
This omnibus bill amends the Courts (Remote Participation) Act to widen the use of remote and audio participation in court proceedings. It lets victims and their support people watch a criminal trial and sentencing by audiovisual or audio link rather than attending in person, and permits audio links (such as teleconferences) for suitable proceedings — while keeping a higher threshold before audiovisual links are used where a defendant's guilt or innocence is being decided. Certain sensitive matters, such as proceedings under mental health law, are exempted. It affects victims, witnesses, defendants (especially those held in custody), and courts managing case backlogs.
The bill also makes permanent a temporary pandemic-era provision confirming that remote participation is consistent with open justice. Supporters say it spares victims the trauma of facing offenders in person, improves access, and helps clear delays. Opponents worry that remote or audio appearances can weaken fair-trial safeguards — making it harder to judge a witness's demeanour or ensure a defendant fully participates — and that reliance on technology may disadvantage people with poor connectivity.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.