Wellington Anniversary Day is observed on Monday 19 January 2026. The following court locations will be closed (including National Office): Dannevirke, Levin, Marton, Masterton, Hutt Valley, Palmerston North, Porirua, Taihape, Wellington and Whanganui.
Normal operating hours resume on Tuesday 20 January 2026.
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The New Zealand Flag Referendums Act 2015 recently considered the design of the flag. The referendum kept our current flag so amendments to the Flags, Emblems and Names Protection Act were not adopted.
The District Court and High Court Rules are regularly and routinely updated to improve court practice by the Rules Committee.
The Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO), New Zealand’s law drafting office, is planning to prepare a revision Bill to revise and combine the Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 with the Military Decoration and Distinctive Badges Act 1918. This work will update the language used in the single Act and improve accessibility. The revision Bill is part of PCO’s routine 3-year statute revision programme. More information about PCO and its proposed revision programme for 2021-2023 can be found on the PCO website(external link).