Criminal Cases Review Commission

The Commission is an independent Crown Entity governed by a Board of Commissioners. It employs specialist staff with the mandate to investigate possible miscarriages of justice. The Commission can refer a case back to the appeal court when it considers a miscarriage of justice may have occurred.

This function replaces the referral function formerly performed by the Governor-General when people applied for the exercise of the Royal prerogative of mercy.

The Commission’s powers and functions are set out in the Criminal Cases Review Commission Act, which came into effect on 1 July 2020. The Act reforms the process for considering possible miscarriages of justice.

You can make an application to Te Kāhui Tātari Ture/Criminal Cases Review Commission (the Commission) on its website:
Criminal Cases Review Commission website(external link)

Governance of the Commission

The Minister of Justice appoints the Commissioners to the Board of the Commission. Colin Carruthers QC is the Chief Commissioner, who is one of New Zealand’s most experienced barristers and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990.
Short biography on Mr Carruthers [PDF, 34 KB]

The Commission's office is based in Hamilton

The Commission is based in Hamilton to reinforce its independence from Government. Its contact details are on its website.

Information about the Criminal Cases Review Commission Act

Read the Criminal Cases Review Commission Act(external link)

Read about how the Bill was passed into law(external link)

Ministry of Justice