Cowley said jury service had a significant impact on employers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole team feels the extra workload.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said most employers had policies for paying employees serving on a jury.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not uncommon for employers to top up the employee\u2019s wages for short jury service trials out of courtesy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tauranga Business Chamber chief executive Matt Cowley. Photo \/ Mead Norton<\/p>\n
However, he said covering employee wages<\/a> during month-long trials was \u201cunachievable\u201d on top of their other leave entitlements and additional resources used to cover the employee\u2019s role.<\/p>\n Cowley said small businesses, sole traders and not-for-profits had the least ability to top up the employee\u2019s wages, but were a significant proportion of New Zealand\u2019s total employers.<\/p>\n He said employers could view jury service as both an important civic duty and an inconvenience.<\/p>\n \u201cThe majority of employers encourage their employees to participate if they can, as an excusal only defers it for a few months.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowley said employees often sought to be excused from jury service because of lost wages or team workload issues.<\/p>\n Rotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short said businesses supported jury service, but it could be a \u201csignificant burden\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMany 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.\u201d<\/p>\n She said businesses<\/a> had to redistribute workloads, delay work or find temporary cover.<\/p>\n \u201cBusinesses believe cost-of-living pressures and ongoing workforce constraints have increased the challenges associated with jury service.\u201d<\/p>\n Short said juror compensation failed to match average incomes, creating financial pressures for some households.<\/p>\n \u201cSome employers continue to pay staff while they serve, while others face additional costs associated with covering workloads or managing reduced productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, he said not everyone who received a summons was required to attend court.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n He said deferral or excusal applications were considered on a case-by-case basis by a registrar. <\/p>\n Excusal applications could be made when jury service<\/a> would significantly affect work, business, family commitments, health or financial circumstances.<\/p>\n The fine for a person who failed to attend jury service when required was up to $1000, Harris said.<\/p>\n Jurors were paid for their time in court and could claim expenses including travel, parking and childcare. <\/p>\n However, Harris said juror fees were not designed to fully replace normal income.<\/p>\n \u201cBut additional support may be available in case of financial hardship.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior criminal barrister Bill Nabney said the low attendance numbers had not affected his trials.<\/p>\n He said, in his experience, there had always been enough people for a jury.<\/p>\n By the numbers<\/p>\n Tauranga<\/p>\n Ministry of Justice figures showed 10,887 people were summoned for jury service at Tauranga District Court<\/a> in 2025.<\/p>\n Of those, only 2593 attended \u2013 24% of the number summoned. <\/p>\n Deferrals were granted for 1977 people and 3091 were granted excusals.<\/p>\n Fees and expenses of $310,529.36 were paid to jurors.<\/p>\n Rotorua<\/p>\nRotorua Business Chamber chief executive Melanie Short. Photo \/ Aleyna Martinez<\/p>\n
The Rotorua courthouse. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n