What records do the courts hold?

The courts hold records relating to court cases

The Courts of New Zealand (the courts) hold court records. Court records can include case files and registers from cases involving: 

• child welfare
• family and guardianship
• criminal matters
• adoptions
• youth justice 

Some court records may be missing

There are missing court records for cases about children and vulnerable adults 

Between the 1950s and 1970s, a lot of detailed information for court cases about children and vulnerable adults was destroyed.

This was to follow guidance that was sent to courts in 1954. 

However, summaries of these court cases should still be available. Finding out your records may have been lost or destroyed can bring up a range of emotions. Learn where you can find support.

There are also missing criminal and civil court records 

There are big gaps during the 1950s and 1970s in records for High (previously known as Supreme) Court criminal and civil (non-criminal) case files. This is because not all courts kept records as well as they were supposed to, or they were allowed to destroy them.

There is a higher chance of getting detailed case files about court cases from the 1980s onwards.