The site is home to several businesses and organisations, including former emergency housing facility The Grand Treasure Hotel and Wilson’s Barber Shop.
Last year, the Government announced plans for a public-private partnership to deliver a new Waitākere District Court, a High Court and a District Court in Rotorua and a new Māori Land Court in Rotorua.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee made her pitch to international investors in March at the Government’s two-day Investment Summit.
She said the project would require an estimated capital investment of over $400m and would address critical capacity and functionality issues.
But hopes for a speedy development were dashed when the Government’s May Budget revealed there was no money for the new building.
Plenary, one of the largest private infrastructure investors in Australia, had expressed interest and wrote to Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop expressing disappointment after the Budget was announced, BusinessDesk reported.
The Rotorua courthouse. Photo / NZME
Bishop has defended the Government’s funding U-turn, saying it needs to stick to its budget, like every household.
But his fellow minister, Rotorua MP Todd McClay, has vowed to sidle up to his National colleagues and push for the funding in the next Budget.
‘Appalling’ conditions
Rotorua defence lawyer Tim Braithwaite said there had been no update as to when and if the Government intended to fund the project.
Braithwaite said in the meantime, the serious problems in the justice system in and around Rotorua had worsened.
“Delays in court proceedings, caused by insufficient courtrooms and judges, are appalling.”
Braithwaite said in the District Court, people were being held in custody for days and sometimes weeks without being able to apply for bail, simply because there was no court time to hear the bail applications.
“Many of these people then get bail and have no recourse for the days they should not have been held in custody.”
In the High Court, with more serious offending, trials were being delayed by years, he said.
“A recent murder case was given a court date in August 2028. The ramifications are serious for all involved.”
He said the slashing of funds from this year’s Budget could only mean the Government did not appreciate the seriousness of the issues.
Rotorua defence lawyer Max Simpkins. Photo / NZME
Senior Rotorua barrister Max Simpkins said the delay was frustrating and the conditions were so bad, he wondered if the current building was even safe.
“We need a new one now. It’s just hopeless in there for us.”
Simpkins gave examples of when the shoddy state of the building had impacted cases.
“Water was coming through the light fittings as a witness was giving evidence in trial in Courtroom Four and during a murder trial once, the pipes burst and water leaked all over our books and the trial had to be aborted.”
He said one of the main issues was during sensitive cases, such as sexual assault complaints, when complainants needed to walk past or be in the vicinity of the accused and their lawyers.
Simpkins said there were not enough courtrooms and judges to keep up with demand.
“We would be one of the busiest provincial centres outside of the main cities. Tauranga is getting a new courthouse and it doesn’t even have a High Court registry as such.”
He said issues with capacity at the current site forced trials to be relocated to Auckland and Hamilton, which ended up costing taxpayers more – taking into account travel, accommodation and other expenses for counsel and witnesses.
“You are supposed to be tried by your people in your community. This is their community, not Hamilton and Auckland.”
Rotorua Crown solicitor Amanda Gordon.
Rotorua Crown solicitor Amanda Gordon said recently that murder trials were now being set in the High Court for the second half of 2028.
She said she could think of two recent examples where people had been charged with murder and bailed because of this wait time.
What the Government says
Bishop was quick to defend the Government’s decision not to allocate funding this year.
“Not everything can be funded in every Budget – the Government has to carefully prioritise investment, like every household in New Zealand does.”
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. Photo / NZME
He said the Government appreciated the importance of the project locally.
“The Ministry of Justice is considering options to progress delivery.”
The Rotorua Daily Post asked the ministry why there was a delay and what the new timeline would be.
Ministry corporate services deputy secretary Kelvin Watson said it was assessing funding opportunities “as a priority”.
He said it was working with local authorities to “designate the site for justice purposes”.
McClay, the Rotorua MP, said while the land had been purchased, it had not received designation or funding for a justice facility.
“The Ministry of Justice has started the process to having the designation changed, which would allow a courthouse to be built on that site.”
Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / NZME
McClay said the Government was considering a number of ways to fund infrastructure, including market-led proposals or public-private partnerships.
“I’ve said to the minister [Bishop] directly this could allow the new Rotorua courthouse to move forward significantly. I will continue to advocate for a new courthouse during the current or next Budget rounds.”
The delay hasn’t been all bad news for locals, with Wilson’s Barber Shop owner Glen Atkinson saying it meant the business didn’t have to move immediately.
Wilson’s Barber Shop is one of the tenants at the site that’s been bought for the new courthouse.
“But I guess it’s only delaying the hassle,” he said.
Atkinson said the shop had been at that site for 35 years and he was happy with Pukuatua St.
“It’s got good parking and that’s the main thing. It’s perfect and it’s one of the widest streets in Rotorua.”
He said the only issue was with homeless people congregating nearby.
“They set up camp here, there and everywhere but they aren’t too bad really, they are just hungry.”
His barbershop was near the Feeding Rotorua distribution site, also located at the site bought for the new courthouse.
Atkinson said sometimes homeless people gathered in the area late in the afternoon to collect their evening meal.
“To me, it is a good cause so I’m not going to get too antsy about it.”
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.