The Public Service justice sector works to keep the people of Aotearoa New Zealand safe and secure.

Ngā kaimahi o te rāngai ture What the justice sector does

The Ministry of Justice leads the justice sector and its work includes managing New Zealand’s court system and running tribunals. The Crown Law Office is the Government’s legal counsel and representative, while the Serious Fraud Office is the lead law enforcement organisation for investigating and prosecuting serious or complex financial crime, including bribery and corruption.

Oranga Tamariki works to support children whose wellbeing is at significant risk, or might be in the future. The Human Rights Commission advocates and promotes respect for human rights in New Zealand, providing the public with information and helping to resolve complaints about discrimination. The Law Commission reviews New Zealand law and makes recommendations to the Government to improve it.

The New Zealand Police works to keep the peace, maintain public safety, prevent crime and enforce the law, while the Department of Corrections manages our prison system and works with offenders in the community and in prison.

The justice sector is comprised of agencies who provide services within the complex and interconnected criminal and civil justice system. Broadly, these organisations and individuals make the law, apply the law and enforce the law. The justice sector is underpinned by New Zealand’s institutional and constitutional arrangements: the Treaty of Waitangi, the separation of powers, the rule of law, judicial independence, and access to justice.

Ngā kaimahi o te rāngai ture Who works in the justice sector

The justice sector provides roles for:

  • judges, barristers, parole officers, security personnel, and registry officers
  • police officers, dogs handlers and trainers, call centre staff and detectives
  • social workers and lawyers
  • forensic accountants, investigators, support staff
  • people working in fraud, bribery and corruption prevention.

Ngā painga o te rāngai ture mō Aotearoa How the justice sector benefits New Zealand

The justice sector works together to:

  • keep communities free from crime and social harm
  • make the law more accessible and easier to understand
  • provide community support and reassurance
  • improve how our justice system operates for Māori.

The sector also provides legal representation, monitors and reports on compliance with New Zealand law, and works to encourage good relations between individuals and among New Zealand’s diverse groups. To help reduce family violence, programmes have been developed for families to get the support they need. In addition, offenders are helped and supported through rehabilitation programmes, education and job training.

Ngā whakahaere rāngai ture Justice sector organisations

These are the main Public Service organisations responsible for New Zealand’s justice sector.

  • Te Tari Ture o te Karauna | Crown Law Office

    The Crown Law Office provides legal advice and representation services to the executive government in matters affecting the Crown, particularly in areas of Te Tiriti, criminal, public and administrative law. It gives assurance to New Zealanders that the executive government’s operations and responsibilities are conducted lawfully.

    Sectors

    Central agencies

    Justice

    Leader

    Una Jagose QC, Te Rōiā Matāmua o te Karauna | Solicitor-General

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    crownlaw.govt.nz

  • Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections

    Corrections helps people make positive changes and keeps New Zealanders safe. Corrections’ core responsibilities include maintaining safe custodial facilities, managing people's compliance with community-based sentences and orders, providing support and information to registered victims, providing information and administrative services to the Courts and the New Zealand Parole Board, and delivering rehabilitative and reintegrative interventions.

    Sectors

    Justice

    Leader

    Jeremy Lightfoot, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Secretary for Corrections and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders 

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team 

    Website

    corrections.govt.nz

  • Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice

    The Ministry of Justice is the lead organisation in the justice sector and on Māori Crown Relations for the Public Service. It administers the court and legal aid systems, and the Public Defence Service. Its staff deliver people-centred justice services that provide access to justice for everyone in New Zealand.

    Sectors

    Justice

    Social 

    Leader

    Andrew Kibblewhite, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Ture | Secretary for Justice and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders 

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    justice.govt.nz

  • Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police

    New Zealand Police works with the community to make New Zealanders be and feel safe, providing policing services 24 hours a day. It operates across land, sea and air to prevent crimes and crashes. It invests in relationships with tangata whenua to jointly reduce offending and victimisation within Māori communities.

    Sectors

    Border

    Emergency

    Justice

    National security

    Social

    Transport

    Leader

    Andrew Coster, Commissioner of Police

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    police.govt.nz

  • Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children

    Oranga Tamariki is dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future. It works with young people who may have offended or are likely to offend. Its strategic partnerships involve helping tamariki and rangatahi Māori to thrive in the care and protection of their whānau, hapū and iwi.

    Sectors

    Justice

    Social 

    Leader

    Chappie Te Kani, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Tamariki | Secretary for Children and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team 

    Website

    orangatamariki.govt.nz

  • Te Tari Hara Tāware | Serious Fraud Office

    The Serious Fraud Office is New Zealand’s lead law enforcement agency for investigating and prosecuting serious or complex financial crime, including bribery and corruption. Its work helps protect the economic and financial wellbeing of New Zealanders and is integral to New Zealand’s reputation for transparency, integrity and low levels of corruption. The SFO leads fraud prevention efforts in the public sector through its Counter Fraud Centre - Tauārai Hara Tāware (CFC). 

    Sectors

    Justice

    Leader

    Karen Chang, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Tari Hara Tāware | Director of the Serious Fraud Office and Chief Executive

    Current Public Service Leaders

    Leadership groups

    Public Service Leadership Team

    Website

    sfo.govt.nz