The country's top judge has used her swearing-in ceremony to highlight the barriers to getting justice for the poor.
Dame Helen Winkelmann, 56, has become the chief justice of New Zealand. Photo: Supplied
Dame Helen Winkelmann, 56, has replaced Dame Sian Elias, who retired earlier this month after nearly 20 years as chief justice.
Speaking before her fellow judges at a special Supreme Court sitting today, she said the poor and marginalised often ended up in the criminal court - but frequently did not often appear in the civil court, despite having complex legal needs.
"Without knowledge of the law, many don't know they have a problem with which the law can help them.
"The cost of legal representation is so great, that is only the well to do that can afford a lawyer to represent them in court, and that is a substantial challenge for the profession."
Many of the solutions were beyond the control of judges, but they could not shy away from dealing with the problems, Dame Helen said.
Without a legal voice, marginalised people were vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.