Court work curtailed as police fill summit roles

By Dean Austen

The High Court at Auckland and the Auckland District Court will partly shut for two weeks during Apec.

Because police court staff are required for more pressing duties during the world leaders' conference, outstanding criminal matters will be put on hold.

Arrest courts will continue and any urgent matters will be dealt with, but no criminal jury trials have been scheduled in either court for the two weeks from September 6.

The closure of roads around both courts for several days and expected problems with traffic congestion mean other services will also be restricted, particularly on September 13.

But court staff are confident backlogs will not result.

Those arrested during the two weeks will still appear each day in the district court and those pleading not guilty will get a post-Apec status hearing date.

Criminal court manager Judith Simpson said the stated objective of providing a status hearing date six to eight weeks after a not guilty plea would be kept.

"If that starts to sneak out for any reason, and Apec may well have that impact, then we'd have to look at running some additional hearings."

As well as no criminal trials, no applications or conferences have been scheduled in the High Court on September 10 or 13.

In the district court, no civil, disputes, tenancy or family court hearings will be held on September 13.

Urgent Family Court applications normally handled that day will go to the North Shore District Court.