The chief coroner says the Government is ignoring potential reforms that would bring New Zealand's coronial system into line with other Western countries.
The Coroners Amendment Bill, introduced in July last year, included a proposal to clarify the role coroners had when making recommendations to prevent future deaths and their relationship with relevant agencies.
Chief Coroner Judge Neil McLean Photo: Unknown
But it did include a recommendation by the University of Otago that organisations should be required to respond to coroner’s findings within three months and make those responses public.
Chief coroner Judge Neil MacLean said recommendations were made after careful consideration and a mandatory response regime would provide crucial feedback.
“It can be a bit disappointing when you go to all that trouble to make a recommendation, address it to a government body or hospital board and there's silence. There’s no response whatsoever.”