The country's courts need more time to set up the infrastructure to operate under the traffic light system.
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann said transitional protocols will be in place until the end of January, so systems to check vaccine passes and carry out rapid antigen tests can be set up.
The courts needed to ensure access to justice, while also protecting the health of those working in and coming to court, Justice Winkelmann said.
There were complex legislative and operational issues to work through and time was needed to do that, she said.
People who don't meet the entry requirements will likely need to appear remotely.
Until the end of January, courts in red areas will operate in much the same way as they did under alert level three.
In orange areas, it will be similar to alert level two.
It is expected courts will begin operating under new traffic light system procedures from the start of February.
The courts are working to ensure jury trials can take place at any setting, with appropriate and practical protective measures.
In the meantime, no new jury trials will begin in red areas until at least February.
In orange areas, scheduled jury trials until December 19 will go ahead.
After that, no new jury trials will begin until at least February.
One jury trial due to begin in the High Court at Rotorua next week will proceed.
Any High Court trials currently underway will continue.
Thousands of court hearings, trials, sentencings and other appearances have been delayed while the country has been at higher alert levels.
Most hearings in Auckland have been taking place virtually over the lockdown.