The fee increases aim to better reflect the Ministry’s operating costs and ensure the financial sustainability of its services. The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa recognises that some increases are necessary, but is concerned about the impact on access to justice.

The Budget 2024 fee increases include inflation adjustments for fees in a range of tribunals, the civil jurisdiction of the District Court and High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, as well as a 10% increase for fees in the criminal jurisdiction of all courts, the Family Court, the Environment Court, the Employment Court, and the Māori Land Court.

“A 2021 survey of the legal profession has identified the costs of conducting proceedings as a common barrier to accessing justice,” says Law Society Vice-President David Campbell. “The Law Society acknowledges that many of these fees have not increased in over 10 years, nor been adjusted for CPI. However, some of the increases make the overall cost significant for those on lower incomes. We are concerned this will contribute to increased costs of commencing and conducting proceedings, creating further barriers to access to justice.”

Some of the more significant fee increases, in dollar terms, include:

• A $330 increase to the fee for filing applications for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
• A $810 increase to the fee for scheduling hearing dates in the Court of Appeal for applications and proceedings which are not interlocutory applications or applications for leave to appeal.
• A $480 increase to the fee for scheduling hearing dates for certain types of applications and proceedings in the High Court.
• A $210 increase to the fees payable for all residence class visa appeals and deportation appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
• A $123 increase to the fee for filing a Notice of Claim with the Taxation Review Authority.

Court and tribunal fees are typically not covered by legal aid. Individuals receiving legal aid need to apply to the court to have any court fees waived.

The fee increases will take effect from 1 July 2024 (unless stated otherwise).

Read more about the fee increases on the Ministry of Justice’s website.

The full list of fee changes can be found here.