Make a complaint

Who to complain to

1. For complaints about police officers, staff, or services.

   You can contact the New Zealand Police, or you can make a complaint to the Independent Police Authority (IPCA), who is independent from the police.

   Make a complaint to the police

   You can make a complaint to the police by:

   • Filling out their online complaint form(external link)
   • Calling 105
   • Visiting your local police station
   • Sending a letter addressed to the Police Commissioner, Police National Headquarters, PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140.
   • For a less formal option, you can fill in the police’s online feedback form(external link)

   Make a complaint to the IPCA

   You can make a complaint to the IPCA by:

   • Filling out their online complaint form(external link)
   • Emailing them at info@ipca.govt.nz
   • Sending a letter addressed to IPCA, PO Box 25221, Wellington 6140.
2. For complaints about lawyers, legal aid lawyers, or prosecutors

   You can make a complaint to the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) about any lawyer (including legal aid lawyers) and law firms. You can also make a complaint about a legal aid lawyer to Legal Aid Providers at the Ministry of Justice or a complaint about a prosecutor to the Solicitor-General through the Crown Law Office.

   Make a complaint to the New Zealand Law Society

   You can make a complaint to the NZLS by:

   • Filling in their online complaint form(external link)
   • Filling in a digital copy of their complaint form and sending it to complaints@lawsociety.org.nz  
   • Sending a completed copy of their complaint form to PO Box 5041, Lambton Quay, Wellington 6145

   You can also contact them for help making a complaint or raising your concerns with the lawyer directly.  Please note that complaints made to the NZLS cannot be made anonymously.

   New Zealand Law Society complaints service(external link)

   Make a complaint to Legal Aid Providers 

   You can make a complaint to Legal Aid Providers by:

   • Filling in a digital copy of the legal aid complaint form and sending it to legalaidcomplaints@justice.govt.nz 
   • Sending a completed copy of the legal aid complaint form to Legal Aid Providers, Ministry of Justice, SX10088, Wellington

   If you would like help to make a legal aid complaint you can freephone 0800 253 425.

   Legal Aid complaints | Ministry of Justice(external link)

   Make a complaint to the Solicitor-General

   You can make a complaint to the Solicitor-General by:

   • Emailing publicprosecutionunit@crownlaw.govt.nz 
   • Sending a letter to PO Box 2858, Wellington 6140
   • Calling Crown Law on +64 4 472 1719. If the concern is complex or unclear, you may be asked to put it in writing as well.

   More information about what you can complain to the Solicitor-General about can be found on Crown Law’s website.

   Formal complaints | Crown Law(external link)

3. For complaints about court staff, interpreters, or court victim advisors

   You can make a complaint to the Ministry of Justice by:

   • Emailing complaints@justice.govt.nz 
   • Sending a letter to National Office, Ministry of Justice SX10088, Wellington

   Question, feedback or complaints | Ministry of Justice(external link)

4. For complaints about a judge’s conduct

   You can complain to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner by:

   • Filling in their online complaints form(external link)
   • Freephone 0800 800 323
   • Emailing judicialconduct@jcc.govt.nz 
   • Sending a letter to the Office of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner, PO Box 2661, Wellington

   Please note that the commissioner cannot investigate legal decisions made by judges.

   Make a complaint | Judicial Conduct Commissioner(external link)

5. For complaints about prisons, corrections staff, or the Victim Notification Register

   You can make a complaint to the Department of Corrections by:

   • Filling in their online complaint form(external link)
   • Emailing victim.complaints@corrections.govt.nz 

   For complaints about the Victim Notification Register

   If you are on the Victim Notification Register, you can make a complaint by:

   • Emailing victim.complaints@corrections.govt.nz 
   • Sending your complaint to Victim Information Manager, Department of Corrections, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140

   If you are not on the Victim Notification Register, you can make a complaint by:

   • Emailing inspectorate@corrections.govt.nz 

   Contact us | Department of Corrections(external link)

    

6. For complaints about parole hearings or services

   You can make a complaint to the NZ Parole board by:

   • Emailing info@paroleboard.govt.nz 
   • Freephone 0800 727 653
7. For complaints about family group conferences or youth justice coordinators

   You can make a complaint to Oranga Tamariki by:

   • Filling in their online complaint form(external link)
   • Calling 0508 326 459 and asking to be put through to the Feeback and Complaints team
   • Contacting your local office

   Feedback and complaints | Oranga Tamariki(external link)

8. For complaints about media coverage

   For complaints about programmes on TV and radio, and certain internet content, you can contact the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).

   Complaints | Broadcasting Standards Authority(external link)

   For complaints about news online and in print, you can contact the New Zealand Media Council (NZMC). In some cases, you may need to complain to the broadcaster first.

   Complaints | New Zealand Media Council(external link)

9. Make a complaint to the Victims Information team

   If your complaint does not relate to any of the agencies or services listed above, you can contact the Victims Information team.

   Include in your email: 

   • your name
   • your preferred email address or phone number
   • your case number (if you know it)
   • a short description of the issue or circumstance you would like to complain about including:
     • what occurred
     • when it happened
     • where it happened
     • the names of any people involved (if relevant).

   To protect your privacy, please only include information that directly relates to your complaint about the service or agency.

   Please do not attach any files in your email.

   Email victimscentre@justice.govt.nz 

   We understand that making a complaint can be difficult. Share only the information you feel comfortable providing that helps explain your concerns.

   If you have any questions about your personal information, please refer to the Victims Information website privacy statement