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Courts Minister Aupito William Sio says changes to the Coroner’s Act will create more efficient processes and help many families and whānau who are experiencing unnecessary distress from current delays.
The Coroners Amendment Bill has passed its first reading and will now be considered by Parliament’s Justice Committee.
Mr Sio says the Bill will reduce the time it takes for certain types of cases to move through the coronial process.
Newly created associate coroners will be able to take over some of the work so corners can focus on more complex cases.
Coroners will be given the sole discretion to decide whether a coronial inquiry should also include an inquest, and they will also be able to issue written findings with the cause of death only, if the broader circumstances are not considered by the Coroner to be of public interest.
Mr Sio says the Bill complements other work to improve the coronial system, including a project to better integrate tikanga Māori into coronial processes, and appointing clinical advisors to assist coroners.
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