Supreme Court House

In 2004 New Zealand abolished the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London and established the Supreme Court of New Zealand as the highest court and the court of last resort of New Zealand.

In 2010 the Supreme Court got a new building. Designed by of Warren and Mahoney it is intended to complement the adjacent buildings containing the Old High Court. The box like structure has a a bronze perimeter screen depicting native pohutukawa and rata trees. The screen encompasses a new court room for the Supreme Court in the shape of a Kauri cone. The splendid interior is lined with over 2000 diamond-shaped panels of South Island silver beech.

The Court is open to the public between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Both the original restored Old High Court and the new Kauri cone are worth a visit.