At the Ministry of Justice, around 3,400 people work all over New Zealand to deliver first-class justice services. We make a genuine difference to the safety of our communities, and the fairness and credibility of New Zealand's justice system.

Our head office is in central Wellington, in a modern, open-plan building with many informal places to meet and interact, as well as its own café. We are across the road from Parliament and just five minutes' walk to the central business district of New Zealand's 'cultural capital', with its cafes, restaurants, green spaces and lively waterfront.

We also have 100 other offices around New Zealand, including in Auckland and Christchurch. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, based around two large harbours in the north of the North Island, while Christchurch, also known as the garden city, is New Zealand's largest South Island city, bordered by hills and the Pacific Ocean and sitting on the edge of the Canterbury Plains, which stretch to the Southern Alps.

One team, one purpose - it’s a great way to define the way we work at the Ministry of Justice – many people working as one team to deliver first class justice services. It’s truly rewarding to know that every day you can make a genuine difference to the safety of our communities, and the fairness and credibility of our justice system. And it doesn’t matter where in the country you are - whether you’re new to the workforce, or looking for the next step in your career - we think you’ll find a future working for justice that will work for you.

We also make sure that we look after our staff at the Ministry, and we provide a range of employment benefits, including:

• 22 days of holiday leave
• Discount on private health care
• Contribution to prescriptions glasses
• Access to government home mortgage package
• Flexible work hours where possible
• Enhanced sick leave arrangements
• Extended parental leave

We offer employment opportunities across a diverse range of areas – everything from the delivery of operational services, including court and tribunal-related services and the collection of fines and reparation payments for victims. Our wide range of roles and teams means that our people enjoy opportunities to gain a variety of skills and experiences while developing their careers.

As the Ministry leads the justice sector, there is also the opportunity to work with other sector agencies. The New Zealand Police, the Department of Corrections, the Ministry of Social Development, Crown Law Office, and the Serious Fraud Office are all agencies we work closely with to achieve the outcome of a safe and just society for New Zealand.

The justice system is a key part of New Zealand’s evolving society. If you are passionate about making a difference for New Zealanders and want to work for an organisation which values excellence and service, and approaches customers and each other with integrity and respect, come and join us working for justice.

The New Zealand Ministry of Justice exists to create a fairer and safer New Zealand and provides many services on behalf of government to help achieve this.

It’s up to us to...

• Develop policy advice
• Support the court system and judiciary
• Settle Treaty of Waitangi claims
• Manage parliamentary elections and referendums
• Collect fines and reparation
• Administer legislation
• Work with communities to enhance safety and wellbeing.

We deliver a huge range of services while also providing leadership for the justice sector as a whole.  Some of these services include: registry services; claims administration and research services; hearings management; judicial support and report-writing services to the Waitangi Tribunal; negotiating with claimants for the settlement of historical claims arising from breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi; managing land for use in settlements; and administration of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011.

Services we offer:

Constitutional arrangements

The Ministry has a pivotal role in supporting both the executive and judicial arms of government. The maintenance of the separation of powers and the independence of each of the three branches of government is fundamental to New Zealand's constitutional arrangements.

Within the New Zealand public sector, the Ministry has a unique role as an agency working for the executive while, at the same time, working to support the independent judiciary to administer the courts system.

Supporting judicial decision making

A key role for the Ministry is supporting the work of the judiciary. We ensure the judiciary is provided with adequate levels of administrative, technological and human resources support, and funding for judicial training and development.

The Ministry seeks judicial input into its operations through joint Ministry-judicial governance and management committees and councils, for example, on improvements to court processes and service design.

In delivering services, we recognise the importance of the constitutional independence of judicial decision making, and work with the judiciary to ensure this independence is preserved and maintained.

Policy advice

The Ministry provides policy advice to Ministers across its three Votes – Justice, Courts and Treaty Settlements. Briefings and advice are provided to Ministers and Cabinet that contribute to the development of the Government's policies and the reform and development of legislation. Support and advice is also provided to parliamentary select committees, in particular, Justice and Electoral, Law and Order, and Māori Affairs.

The Ministry facilitates input from the public to the justice system by managing consultation during the reform and development of justice-related legislation, and communicates to the public, on behalf of the Government, the intent and implementation requirements of new legislation.

The Ministry of Justice administers 166 Acts of Parliament solely, or jointly with other agencies.

Operational services

The Ministry provides administration, case management and support services to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, District Court, special jurisdictions, and a range of tribunals and authorities in 103 locations around New Zealand.

We deliver registry services, claims administration, research services, hearings management, judicial support and report-writing services to the Waitangi Tribunal. The Ministry negotiates for the settlement of historical claims arising from the Treaty of Waitangi, and manages land for use in settlements.

We resolve court-imposed monetary penalties and infringement fines, enforce and complete civil judgment orders and serve court documents.

In addition to providing advice about criminal justice and crime reduction, the Ministry works directly with a range of non-governmental organisations in crime prevention and other activities, such as partnerships with local authorities and iwi, and provides funding directly to support local initiatives.

The Ministry is also responsible for the administration of parliamentary elections, by-elections and referenda.

Corporate Services

The Ministry's sector leadership responsibilities and corporate services are provided by the Corporate Services Group.

The corporate functions provided by the group include human resources, information technology, knowledge information services, property management services, court security, risk and business assurance, project management, communications, finance, planning and reporting, and facilities and office management.

Sector Leadership

The Sector Strategy business unit takes the lead role in the relationship with the justice sector. Its role includes responsibility for the sector outcomes framework, coordination of sector-wide initiatives, management of the sector Budget process, coordination of the Justice Sector Information Strategy, and evaluation of initiatives and monitoring of the performance of Crown entities and other organisations that are funded through Vote Justice.

Our vision is to create a fairer and safer New Zealand by providing modern, accessible, people-centred justice services.

Our values:

Respect

We value others and their contributions

• We share our knowledge and experience generously
• We work together towards shared goals
• We respect diversity and support one another

Integrity

We are honest and open

• We take personal responsibility
• We have high professional standards
• We are fair and impartial

Service

We deliver results

• We understand and meet the needs of those to whom we provide services
• We take good care of relationships
• We meet time frames we have agreed to

Excellence

We focus on quality

• We focus on finding solutions
• We encourage innovation to achieve better results
• We acknowledge our achievements and successes