Four courts would close nationally from early next year and nine, including Balclutha and Oamaru, would open only when criminal, civil or family hearings were held, Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced yesterday.
His announcement was followed by a proposed district court staffing restructure that could result in 170 positions being disestablished. The Ministry of Justice said the planned restructure would lead to a net loss of 68 jobs, including 11 from Oamaru south.
The Government was responsible for court closure decisions and the ministry was responsible for those around staffing, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said of the two announcements.
A spokesman for Mr Borrows said the minister's announcement would lead to 31 job losses, with the creation of 18 new jobs at other courts bringing the net loss to 13.
courthouses in Balclutha and Oamaru were two of seven courts closed last year after they were deemed to be at risk of collapse in an earthquake.
Since then, Balclutha criminal court hearings have been transferred to Gore, and Family Court hearings shifted to Dunedin.
Oamaru sittings were transferred to Timaru, until a temporary centre was found in the Oamaru Opera House.
Mr Borrows said yesterday long-term decisions on the courts in Balclutha and Oamaru would be made next year.
Administration for Balclutha will be handled by the Dunedin District Court and Oamaru paperwork would now be dealt with by the Timaru District Court.
Balclutha barrister Tina Williams believed yesterday's changes and proposals were only the beginning.
"How will there be a hearing centre when we don't have a courthouse? Our family hearings are not even held in Balclutha - they were held at St John's ambulance hall once and have been held in Dunedin since then.
"It's just another way of lessening the service and access to justice ...
"There's a complete lack of understanding about the services for the community and the role court staff, particularly our registrars, play in our community."
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said it was another disappointing setback in the court service "saga".
There seemed to be conflicting accounts between local and Wellington opinion on how well temporary court services were working, he said.
"I have a real concern for the natural justice process. Both the perpetrator and the victim of a crime should have a chance to see the justice process. The victim has a right to see the perpetrator's day in court."
Oamaru lawyer Phil Hope said the scrapping of counter services provided by the town's registry office could "compromise" the local court system.
"The Oamaru court provides fantastic service over and above just court hearings. Having court registry functions locally provides considerable efficiency. We receive notices, decisions, directions far more speedily out of the Oamaru court than many others."
Fellow Oamaru lawyer Michael DeBuyzer said Oamaru court staff were "critical" to the prompt dispatch of court business and the loss of their knowledge would disadvantage vulnerable sections of the community.
The change showed a total misunderstanding of the people who needed to access court services, Mr DeBuyzer said.
Mr Borrows said the proposed changes - the first across the country's 63 district courts in 30 years - would come into effect early next year.
Court staff were briefed on the ministry proposals yesterday and were originally given access to a consultation document that suggested at least 96 jobs could go, a figure the ministry later admitted was wrong.
The blunder came less than three weeks after the Government faced criticism over its confused handling of the Christchurch school closures.
The Public Service Association said yesterday's mistake over possible job losses was unacceptable and would create anxiety.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the consultation document released yesterday contained "an error that overstated the amount of affected management positions and this has now been corrected".
The proposed changes were intended to reduce the number of management layers and to have minimal effect on frontline staff numbers.
Of the 1100 staff at district courts, fewer than 200 mostly management roles would be affected, the spokesman said.
The changes were proposals only, and staff and unions had known they were coming for some time.
"But today is the first time that most people have seen the detailed proposals, and decisions won't be made until we consult and get feedback from staff." - Additional reporting APNZ
The proposals
• Feilding, Upper Hutt, Warkworth and Whataroa courts to close.
• Balclutha, Oamaru, Dargaville, Waihi, Te Awamutu, Te Kuiti, Opotiki, Marton and Waipukurau to open only for specific hearings.
• 68 jobs could be lost nationally (Oamaru 3, Dunedin 4, Balclutha 2, Alexandra 1, Invercargill 1).
• Changes take effect from early 2013.
Oamaru
• Sits on average 4.5 days a month.
• The District Court building was closed in late 2011 because of earthquake risk. Cost of strengthening $5 million to $6 million (estimate). Decision on long-term future to be made in 2013.
• Criminal and Family Court hearings will continue to be held in temporary court rooms in the Opera House.
• All paperwork will be done at the Timaru District Court. Temporary registry office at Work and Income building to close.
Balclutha
• Sits on average three days a month.
• Criminal cases will continue to be held at the Gore District Court while courthouse closed because of earthquake concerns.
• Decision on Balclutha building's long-term future to be made in 2013.
• Court registry office and counter services to close from early 2013.
• Paperwork to be handled by the Dunedin District Court.
