Neil Sands
The long-awaited replacement of Rotorua’s dilapidated courts was announced on Wednesday after years of complaints about mould, leaks and poor security.
Courts Minister Nicole McKee admitted existing courthouses in Rotorua were unacceptable but has promised state-of-the-art facilities under a $100 million project unveiled ahead of Thursday’s Budget.
“For too long, Rotorua has been left with court buildings that are no longer fit for purpose. Longstanding issues including leaks, mould and poor ventilation have created unacceptable conditions for court users and staff,” she said.
Under the plan, the Rotorua Law Courts – housing the High Court, District Court, Coroners Court and various tribunals – will move to a new building scheduled to open on Pukuatua Street in 2030.
The existing courthouse on Tutanekai Street will the be demolished and replaced with a new building for the Māori Land Court, with construction set to begin in 2031.
The new law courts will have significantly more capacity than the existing building, with McKee saying: “More courtrooms mean more cases heard on time and faster outcomes for victims and communities.”
“Faster justice requires the infrastructure to support it. You cannot run an efficient justice system out of failing buildings,” she added. “The current facilities also create unnecessary security risks. Victims, jurors, witnesses and defendants should not all be forced to use the same entrances. The new courthouse will provide safer, more secure facilities for everyone using the court.”
The dire state Rotorua’s courthouse has been an issue for years, with lawyers complaining about cramped, “third world” holding cells, buckets being used to catch dripping water in courtrooms and failing tech.
The situation has become so bad that Rotorua’s judges had to vacate their chambers earlier this month because the building was infested with toxic black mould, which can cause major health issues.
McKee acknowledged the problems at a select committee meeting last year but said at the time there were no funds for new courthouses in Rotorua and Waitākere, which is also notoriously run down.
Waitākere is in such disrepair that staff are scared to turn the lights on when it rains for fear of electric shocks and people are being forced to use single-ply rolls in the toilet to prevent blockages.
However, new courthouses in Whanganui and Papakura are due to be completed in 2027 and construction is underway on a court precinct in Tauranga.
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