New Zealand’s judiciary and Ministry of Justice are developing Te Au Reka, a digital case management system that will change how lawyers, court users, registry staff and judges manage cases. The accompanying Courts Portal is intended to bring filing, payment, case tracking and access to court information into a single online service, replacing a range of manual and paper-based processes.
Information entered through the portal will be able to move through the court process without repeated re-entry, which is expected to reduce duplication and improve the consistency and accuracy of court records. The same digital case record will support registry administration and judicial decision-making, giving court users clearer visibility of progress and updates. The first operational rollout is planned for the Family Court in March 2027, as part of a wider effort to create a more accessible, efficient and resilient court system.