Problem-Solving Courts in New Zealand

By Oliver Fredrickson

New Zealand has a range of problem-solving courts which address common drivers of offending, such as substance use, mental health, homelessness and family violence. This report outlines the historical, political, and legal context in which problem-solving courts developed and continue to operate in New Zealand, before surveying the country's various problem-solving courts and reviewing the new model for the District Court of New Zealand, Te Ao Mārama, which seeks to integrate the best practice features from these problem-solving courts into the mainstream courts. This report was commissioned by the Centre and undertaken by Oliver Fredrickson, a New Zealand-qualified lawyer who completed a fellowship at the Centre.

On 7 August 2025, the UK Ministry of Justice announced its intention to expand Intensive Supervision Courts (“ISCs”). ISCs address the underlying causes of criminal offending and provide “enhanced community-based sentences” to divert those at risk of facing custodial sentences.a To this end, the Ministry circulated an Expression of Interest to gauge interest across England and Wales for potential new ISCs. With the Sentencing Bill receiving Royal Assent on 22 January 2026- becoming the Sentencing Act 2026- this ISC expansion is being realised, with the new sites due to be announced shortly. We are pleased to have supported the Ministry of Justice throughout the Expression of Interest process. We worked with all successful areas during the development of their proposals, supporting them to deepen their understanding of existing ISC and wider problem-solving court models, and supporting local partnerships to consider how these nationally defined models could be implemented in their local context.

Alongside this process – and to potentially spark some inspiration in how these run going forwards – the Centre for Justice Innovation has commissioned this report, which examines the experience of problem-solving courts in New Zealand. New Zealand has various problem-solving courts which address common drivers of offending, such as substance use, mental health, homelessness, family violence, and youth. This report surveys these problem-solving courts and outlines how their best practices features are now being integrated into the mainstream courts. This report adopts the following structure: • Part One outlines the historical, political, and legal context in which problem-solving courts developed and continue to operate in New Zealand. • Part Two surveys the various problem-solving courts in New Zealand, examining how (and why) they emerged, how they were established, how they currently operate, and how they have performed.