Ministry updates details for closed courts

The Ministry of Justice has released an update for courts in Balclutha, Dunedin and Oamaru.

The District Courts in Balclutha and Oamaru were closed in late November 2011 after engineering experts warned there was a high risk of partial or full collapse in a significant seismic event. The tower block and surrounding area of the Dunedin Combined Court were also closed in late December.

The ministry says that in Balclutha, seismic assessments have been conducted on alternative venues in the community in order to hold family and civil hearings locally. It says it is waiting on a report before considering options further. Registry services continue to be offered at the Balclutha registry building next to the District Court, with hearings moved to Gore or Dunedin in the meantime.

In Oamaru, registry services will be offered from the local Work and Income office by early March and court hearings will be operating from the Oamaru Opera House from mid to late March.

“This is a great example of how a community can pull together in tough times to overcome adversity,” Acting Deputy Secretary Courts  Robert Pigou says. “I’d like to thank the Ministry of Social Development and management from the Oamaru Opera House especially for making this possible.”

The ministry also says the majority of Dunedin's hearings continue to be heard at the Dunedin Courthouse, with jury trials being held at Invercargill District Court.