Cowley said jury service had a significant impact on employers.
“The whole team feels the extra workload.”
He said most employers had policies for paying employees serving on a jury.
“It’s not uncommon for employers to top up the employee’s wages for short jury service trials out of courtesy.”
Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley. Photo / Mead Norton
However, he said covering employee wages during month-long trials was “unachievable” on top of their other leave entitlements and additional resources used to cover the employee’s role.
Cowley said small businesses, sole traders and not-for-profits had the least ability to top up the employee’s wages, but were a significant proportion of New Zealand’s total employers.
He said employers could view jury service as both an important civic duty and an inconvenience.
“The majority of employers encourage their employees to participate if they can, as an excusal only defers it for a few months.”
Cowley said employees often sought to be excused from jury service because of lost wages or team workload issues.
Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short said businesses supported jury service, but it could be a “significant burden”.
“Many businesses operate with lean teams and limited capacity to absorb extended absences, meaning the impact can be significant when a staff member is selected for a trial.”
She said businesses had to redistribute workloads, delay work or find temporary cover.
“Businesses believe cost-of-living pressures and ongoing workforce constraints have increased the challenges associated with jury service.”
Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short. Photo / Aleyna Martinez
Short said juror compensation failed to match average incomes, creating financial pressures for some households.
“Some employers continue to pay staff while they serve, while others face additional costs associated with covering workloads or managing reduced productivity.”
Short said local businesses wanted to see more consideration of whether the jury burden in Rotorua was being shared across the wider region served by the courts.
Ministry of Justice courts and tribunals regional service delivery acting group manager Matt Harris said a large number of people were summoned to ensure enough jurors were available.
However, he said not everyone who received a summons was required to attend court.
“The number of people summoned accounts for a range of factors, including excusal, deferrals, summons cancellations, people who are not required on the day, and people who do not respond to or attend their summons.”
He said deferral or excusal applications were considered on a case-by-case basis by a registrar.
Excusal applications could be made when jury service would significantly affect work, business, family commitments, health or financial circumstances.
The Rotorua courthouse. Photo / NZME
The fine for a person who failed to attend jury service when required was up to $1000, Harris said.
Jurors were paid for their time in court and could claim expenses including travel, parking and childcare.
However, Harris said juror fees were not designed to fully replace normal income.
“But additional support may be available in case of financial hardship.”
Senior criminal barrister Bill Nabney said the low attendance numbers had not affected his trials.
He said, in his experience, there had always been enough people for a jury.
By the numbers
Tauranga
Ministry of Justice figures showed 10,887 people were summoned for jury service at Tauranga District Court in 2025.
Of those, only 2593 attended – 24% of the number summoned.
Deferrals were granted for 1977 people and 3091 were granted excusals.
Fees and expenses of $310,529.36 were paid to jurors.
Rotorua
At the Rotorua High Court and the Rotorua District Court, 12,430 people were summoned in 2025.
Of that number, only 2621 – 21% – attended.
The Rotorua District Court. Photo / Andrew Warner
Deferrals were granted for 1906 people and excusals for 2884 people.
The Ministry of Justice paid $315,909.93 in juror fees and expenses.
New Zealand
Nationwide, 216,074 people received summonses in 2025.
Only 46,516 people attended – 21.5%.
Almost $7 million in juror fees and expenses was paid to jurors across the country.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.