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Appointment to the District Court or Environment Court Bench

If you wish to register your interest in appointment as a District or Environment Court Judge you can fill in this form:

Expression of interest form (PDF) [PDF, 197 KB]

Expression of interest form (Word) [DOCX, 81 KB]

or you can read more about it in this booklet:

Judicial appointments information booklet [DOCX, 42 KB]

Appointment to the High Court Bench

If you wish to register your interest in appointment as a High Court Judge or Associate Judge you can fill in these forms:

Expression of interest form [PDF, 465 KB]

Declaration for appointment to the High Court [DOCX, 26 KB]

or you can read more about the protocol here:

Appointments protocol [PDF, 282 KB]

Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal - Chairperson

Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified persons for the position of Chairperson of the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal.

The functions of the Tribunal are set out in s.102 of the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 (the Act) and are —

(a)      to hear and determine any application made by a Complaints Assessment Committee for the suspension of the licence of a licensee pending the determination of a charge that the Committee has laid against the licensee;

(b)      to hear and determine any charge against a licensee brought by a Complaints Assessment Committee;

(c)      to hear any appeal under section 111 of the Act against a determination by a Complaints Assessment Committee (including a determination to take no action); and to conduct any review, under section 112, of a decision of the Registrar.

The Chairperson is appointed by The Minister of Justice for a term of up to five years, that term may be renewed.

Section 100 of the Act requires the Chairperson to be a barrister or solicitor with not less than 7 years’ legal experience.

The closing date for expressions of interest is 4 pm Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Customs Appeal Authority / Taxation & Charities Review Authority

Applications are invited from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to either or both positions of the following two statutory positions:

Both positions are part-time and generally require a modest time commitment.  They would suit individuals who want a part-time adjunct to other employment.

Customs Appeal Authority

Section 348 of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 provides for the establishment of one or more Customs Appeal Authorities. Authorities are appointed by the on the joint recommendation of the Minister of Customs and the Minister of Justice.

 

Each Authority consists of one person, being a District Court Judge or a barrister or solicitor of the High Court of not less than seven years’ practice.

 

The functions of an Authority are to sit as a judicial authority for hearing and deciding appeals against assessments, decisions, rulings, determinations, and directions of the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service.

 

For the purposes of dealing with the matters before it, an Authority has the powers of the District Court, in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction, in respect of citing parties and conducting and maintaining order at the hearings of the Authority.

 

Taxation Review Authority

Section 5(1) of the Taxation Review Authorities Act 1994 provides for the establishment of one or more Taxation Review Authorities.  Authorities are appointed by the governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice.

Every Authority shall consist of one person, being a District Court Judge or a barrister or solicitor of the High Court of not less than 7 years’ practice

The Authority hears tax disputes arising between taxpayers and the Inland Revenue Department.

The Authority also hears appeals under the Charities Act 2005 against decisions made by the Charities Registration Board or the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs.

Application Documents

Please email your completed application forms, curriculum vitae and a covering letter to General.OLC@justice.govt.nz  or post to:

Appointments and Specialist Functions Unit
Ministry of Justice
SX10088
WELLINGTON

Applications close 4 pm Wednesday 23 September 2026.

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