In a "very unusual" move, the High Court will sit in Queenstown next month, to preside over a judicial review for the Queenstown-Auckland airports alliance.
The hearing had initially been set down for Christchurch. However, it has been moved to the Queenstown District Court chambers because of the February 22 Christchurch earthquake.
The High Court usually sits in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.
Graeme Todd, of GTodd Law, told the Otago Daily Times it was not the first time the High Court had sat in the resort - it had for some procedural matters and, most recently, in 2009 when Judge Kevin Phillips was sworn in.
However, it was the first time a case had been heard in Queenstown.
"The court was always designed that it could deal with High Court cases, I guess they have just taken the opportunity given it's ... in the public interest and the court is unavailable in Christchurch."
Mr Todd said the High Court endeavoured to hear cases as close to where the issue originated as possible.
It was likely matters had already been set down in Invercargill and Dunedin, he said.
The new Queenstown District Court was officially opened in 2006, built by Ngai Tahu as part of its Post Office Precinct development.
