July 18, 2019

Research looking into Chinese litigants and witnesses in NZ courts

Published on New Zealand Law Society

18 July 2019

The Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business (which is a division of Chen Palmer Partners) is conducting research into the issues and challenges in administering justice in cases involving Chinese litigants and witnesses in New Zealand courts.

The researchers would like to contact lawyers who have acted in cases involving Chinese parties or witnesses.

Chen Palmer Partners managing partner Mai Chen says the research will help to ensure courts are better equipped to administer justice, including through improved interpreter services and data collection and analysis.

“While the report will be focused on Chinese parties, the research and findings will be equally applicable to all culturally and linguistically diverse parties in the New Zealand courts,” she says.

The research is supported by the Ministry of Justice, the New Zealand Law Foundation, and the Borrin Foundation.

Ms Chen says the research will include literature and case search and analysis; data review (with data provided by the Ministry of Justice); and stakeholder perspectives including confidential and anonymous interviews with judges (Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court), prosecutors, lawyers and interpreters.

“If you have ever acted for, or acted as a prosecutor in a case involving Chinese parties or witnesses, we would be grateful if you could get in touch to be interviewed for the research. This should take no more than an hour of your time and we are happy to attribute your comments or keep them anonymous, depending on your preference.

“If you are available and willing to be interviewed, please get in touch with Associate Lucinda King to arrange a time, including brief details of your relevant experience, at Lucinda.king@chenpalmer.com.”

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