Story: Judicial system

Magistrates court, Christchurch

Magistrates court, Christchurch

A group of unidentified men stand outside the Christchurch Magistrates Court, probably in the early 1900s. The building survived the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 with some damage. Resident magistrates' courts were established in 1846 and in 1893 were renamed magistrates' courts. They dealt with both criminal and civil matters and continued to sit until 1980, when they were renamed district courts.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, The Press (Christchurch) Collection (PAColl-3031)
Reference: 1/2-040899-G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Philip A. Joseph and Thomas Joseph, 'Judicial system - History of the courts', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33961/magistrates-court-christchurch (accessed 30 April 2024)

Story by Philip A. Joseph and Thomas Joseph, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 11 Oct 2016