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Overview
You may be involved with the Coroners Court if someone in your family or whānau has died suddenly, unexpectedly, or in circumstances that need to be looked into by a coroner. This page explains why some deaths are referred, the roles of the coroner and police, and what to expect during the coronial process.
When a death is referred to the coroner
A coroner’s role is to find out, as far as possible, who died, and where, when, how and why the death happened.
Not all deaths are referred to the coroner. A death must be referred to the coroner if it was:
- sudden
- unexplained
- violent
- medically unexpected
- suspected to be self-inflicted
- in official custody or care.
A death is in ‘official custody or care’ if it happened when the deceased was in prison, police custody or Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children custody or care, or under a compulsory treatment order made under mental health or intellectual disability, or addictions legislation.
Role of the coroner
A coroner is like a judge. They are independent judicial officers who investigate the cause and circumstances of sudden and unexpected deaths in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The coroner may find things out while investigating a person’s death that might help to save someone else’s life in the future. If appropriate, the coroner may choose to make comments and/or recommendations to help prevent deaths occurring in similar circumstances.
The coroner’s inquiry does not determine whether someone is guilty of a crime or legally responsible for a death.
Role of the police
The police investigate the causes and circumstances of your loved one’s death on behalf of the coroner. They may ask you or other family and whānau members to make a formal statement about your loved one and how they died. The police will provide the coroner with all the relevant information they have.
In some cases, the police also conduct a criminal investigation. If this results in a prosecution, the coroner will wait for its conclusion before deciding whether a coronial inquiry is required.