Every year, thousands of New Zealanders give their time to serve on juries in the High and District Courts.
Jury service is an important way you contribute to your country and your local community. Jurors help make sure the justice system is fair for all New Zealanders.
A jury is a group of 12 people from the community, randomly selected from the Electoral Roll.
They hear the evidence of a case, decide on the facts and then reach a verdict – guilty or not guilty.
If you’re enrolled to vote, you can be randomly selected (‘summoned’) for jury service.
You must come to court, unless you get a letter or email from the court before the court date telling you that you’ve been excused.
You’ll be paid weekly for attending jury service for every half day you spend at court. You’ll only be paid for time you’ve spent at court.
This includes time you spend at court waiting to find out if you’ll be selected to be on a jury. The payment is to acknowledge and thank you for your service. It’s not meant to replace your wage or salary.
Employers do not have to pay their employees while they are on jury service, but many choose to ‘top up’ the money they get from the Ministry of Justice so their employees receive their normal pay.
If an employee is called up for jury service, they’re required by law to attend, and their job is protected while they do so. Their employer must allow them to attend jury service.
However, if the employee’s absence from work causes difficulty because of special commitments or responsibilities they may have, they can apply to be excused or to have their service deferred, for which their employer can provide them with a letter of support.
An employee cannot be dismissed or have their position threatened for attending jury service. If they are, they can bring a personal grievance against their employer, who could receive a fine of up to $10,000.
This Solutions Column has been compiled by Vani and is a regular Times editorial from the Pakuranga Citizens Advice Bureau. Email
enquiries.pakuranga@cab.org.nz or call/text WhatsApp 028 438 2188, visit us at the Library Building, Pakuranga, phone 576 8331 and at Botany Citizens Advice Bureau, rear food court entrance, Botany Town Centre, phone 271 5382 or 0800 367 222 for free, confidential and informative help.
