WorkSafe\u2019s recommended temperature for sedentary work environments is 19-24C in summer and 18-22C in winter.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Justice corporate services deputy secretary Kelvin Watson said the ministry was upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the Rotorua Courthouse.<\/p>\n
Last week, the temperature dropped below the set point, and the fault was not detected as the monitoring system also failed.<\/p>\n
Watson said it was the 11th air conditioning failure in courtroom four since April 1, and it was related to the upgrade works.<\/p>\n
He said a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit was installed at the beginning of April and \u201cfull commissioning\u201d was not finished.<\/p>\n
He said last week\u2019s trial interruption was short \u2013 about an hour, which included the standard morning break.<\/p>\n
Asked if the ministry would push for a new Rotorua courthouse, using this as another example of the building\u2019s issues, Watson said the ministry\u2019s business case for funding highlighted the \u201cadvanced age and condition\u201d of the existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Crown prosecutor and Gordon Pilditch partner Anna McConachy said the recent temperature-related jury trial delay was disappointing but, unfortunately, not uncommon.<\/p>\n
Rotorua Crown prosecutor and Gordon Pilditch partner Anna McConachy. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cSimilar disruptions have occurred in numerous jury trials in the Rotorua District Court over the past few years, where temperatures have been either too hot or too cold in the courtroom, or in facilities such as CCTV rooms used by vulnerable witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said delays of this nature affected everyone involved, including witnesses, jurors and defendants.<\/p>\n
Defence lawyer Tim Braithwaite \u2013 who has previously described the conditions at the courthouse as \u201cappalling\u201d \u2013 said the latest air conditioning issues added to the building\u2019s list of problems, including roof leaks when it rained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a regular sight seeing buckets around the courthouse and people there mopping up the mess. What it means practically is that cases are halted and\/or moved. Black mould is a very real concern for the court users.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said building issues contributed to the \u201chuge delays\u201d to access justice regularly seen in Rotorua. <\/p>\n
Despite this, there had been no word from the Government on whether Rotorua\u2019s proposed new courthouse would make it back into the Budget.<\/p>\n
Rotorua defence lawyers Tim Braithwaite (left) and Max Simpkins spoke out about the Rotorua courthouse in January. Photo \/ Kelly Makiha<\/p>\n
Rotorua lawyers highlighted the issues in January, saying people with murder charges were being bailed as the court could not hear the trial for three years. <\/p>\n
They were also concerned defendants facing less serious charges were waiting days behind bars before they could apply for bail because of the clogged system.<\/p>\n
The court had the lowest user satisfaction rate in the country<\/a> in a survey last year, Newstalk ZB reported.<\/p>\n Concerns, safety issues and delays have been well-publicised, with calls for a fix stretching back beyond 2018.<\/p>\n In 2023, the Government bought a site for a new courthouse<\/a> at 1130 Pukuatua St for $7.15 million, raising locals\u2019 hopes that building might progress.<\/p>\n In 2025, the Government announced plans for a public-private partnership to deliver a new High Court, District Court and M\u0101ori Land Court in Rotorua.<\/p>\n Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee made her pitch to international investors in March 2025 at the Government\u2019s two-day Investment Summit.<\/p>\n She said at the time the project would need an estimated capital investment of more than $400m and would address critical capacity and functionality issues.<\/p>\n