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New Zealand > :Constitutional law > Legislation

The Courts of New Zealand are administered by the Ministry of Justice. Although the ministry is a government department funded by appropriations of taxes by the New Zealand Parliament, the Judiciary is, by constitutional convention, independent of Parliament.

The following Courts administer New Zealand law:

• Supreme Court - Court of Final Appeal. - Previously the Court of Final Appeal was the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
• Court of Appeal
• High Court - Hears serious criminal and civil cases, as well as appeals from lower courts.
• District Court - Hears minor criminal and civil cases.
• Family Court - Hears family matters, including divorce, estate and care of children cases.
• Youth Court - Hears less serious criminal cases where the accused is aged under 17 years.
• Coronors Court - Inquests into accidental and traumatic deaths.
• Employment Court - Hears employment cases.
• There are also several other court-like judicial bodies that hear or mediate specific classes of cases in less formal settings.