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Court interpreter costs soar amid threats to hobble thousands of cases
26 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
The biggest translation bill was $42,077 for four Mandarin/Cantonese interpreters at a three-week Auckland High Court criminal trial in 2019. Photo / File
The biggest translation bill was $42,077 for four Mandarin/Cantonese interpreters at a three-week Auckland High Court criminal trial in 2019. Photo / File
Court interpreters have threatened to abandon their posts and bring thousands of hearings to a standstill unless the Government agrees to quadruple their mandated fees. This is despite some interpreters already pocketing hourly rates up to five times higher than allowed under the law, and the private contractors creaming more than $13 million from taxpayers in the past five years.
Fewer than one in five people called up for jury services showed up at court in 2019-20.
Fewer than one in five New Zealanders called up for jury service report for duty. Why are so many Kiwis avoiding an important civic responsibility?
Jimmy Ellingham reports. The lawyers and the judge are in position, wearing their trial robes. In the dock sits the defendant – in this case a man on trial for raping and sexually violating two women – flanked by security. Court staff usher in several dozen people ready to hear the case. The 12 chosen for the jury will decide whether the man on trial is guilty, part of an ancient legal right to be heard by your peers.
Rotorua Courthouse tagging: Offensive message left on wall
8 Apr, 2021 03:15 AM
2 minutes to read
The front of the Rotorua courthouse was defaced on Thursday.
Commercial cleaners had to be quickly called in this morning after offensive tagging was spotted on the side of several courthouse buildings in the North Island, including in Rotorua.
In Rotorua, the tagging read little boy rapist and was spray-painted on the side of the building sometime during the morning.
Ministry of Justice Chief Operating Officer Carl Crafar said they were notified about graffiti at the Huntly District Court, Morrinsville District Court, Hamilton District Court and Rotorua District Court.