A summons to the Greymouth District Court, a police bail notice, or a relative held overnight — and suddenly you need to understand a system nobody explains to you. Is this serious enough for jail? Do you get a free lawyer? What happens at the first hearing? You do not have to guess. This page sets out, in plain English, how criminal charges work in New Zealand and what that means specifically for people on the West Coast — from Greymouth and Westport to Hokitika and Reefton. New Zealand has one national criminal law, so the rules are the same everywhere; what changes is where your case is heard and who can help you locally.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across West Coast.
Two things matter from the moment police are involved. First, your rights: under section 23 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, if you are arrested or detained you have the right to stay silent and the right to consult a lawyer without delay — and the police must tell you both. You can phone a lawyer for free, any hour, through the Police Detention Legal Assistance (PDLA) scheme on 0800 102 040. Second, the timeline: if you are charged you will be given a first court date at the Greymouth (Māwhera) District Court at 60 Guinness Street, and a free duty lawyer is available there on the day to help you understand the charge and your plea. Do not make a statement or enter a plea before you have had legal advice.
The single biggest mistake people make is talking to police before getting advice. Under section 23 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 you have the right to stay silent and to consult a lawyer without delay — and you do not have to pay for that first call. The Police Detention Legal Assistance scheme puts a lawyer on the phone for free, 24 hours a day, on 0800 102 040, with no minimum age and no income test for that initial advice. Whether you are in a Greymouth cell, pulled over near Hokitika, or just received a charging document in the post, get legal advice before you make any statement or decide on a plea. What you say in the first hours is exactly what ends up in evidence.
If you cannot afford a private lawyer, the West Coast has real, free help — and most of it is just a phone call away. These are independent organisations, not Legal Hotline, but they are the right doors to know. When you are launching into the system for the first time, start with the free PDLA line or the duty lawyer at court.
Which court will hear my criminal case on the West Coast?
For nearly all adult criminal matters on the Coast, the Greymouth (Māwhera) District Court at 60 Guinness Street, Greymouth. Westport, Hokitika and Reefton cases are generally administered through Greymouth, and the most serious cases are heard there as the High Court. Knowing where to appear — and on time — is the first practical step.
Do I have to talk to the police if they ask me questions?
No. Under section 23 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, if you are arrested or detained you have the right to stay silent and to consult a lawyer without delay, and the police must tell you both. You can phone a free lawyer through the PDLA scheme on 0800 102 040 before saying anything.
Can I get a free lawyer if I'm arrested in Greymouth?
Yes. The Police Detention Legal Assistance scheme gives free legal advice by phone, 24/7, to anyone the police have arrested or are holding — there is no minimum age and no income test for that call. Phone 0800 102 040. At court, a free duty lawyer can also help you on your hearing day.
Will I qualify for legal aid for my charge?
If your charge carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment or more and you cannot afford a lawyer, you automatically qualify for criminal legal aid (subject to a means test). For less serious charges you may still qualify if jail is a real risk, you have a record, or the case is legally complex. You apply through the Ministry of Justice.
What's the difference between a category 1, 2, 3 and 4 offence?
Under the Criminal Procedure Act 2011: category 1 is fine or community-sentence only; category 2 is up to two years' imprisonment (judge-alone trial); category 3 is two years or more, with the right to elect a jury; category 4 covers the most serious offences such as murder, heard in the High Court before a judge and jury. The category decides whether jail is possible and whether you can choose a jury.
What is the drink-driving limit in New Zealand?
Under section 56 of the Land Transport Act 1998, the adult limits are 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath and 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood; for drivers under 20 the limit is zero. Readings above 400 micrograms (breath) or 80 milligrams (blood) are criminal charges heard in the District Court, not just a roadside fine.
What happens if I'm caught drink-driving more than once?
Penalties escalate sharply. A third or subsequent drink-driving conviction carries a maximum of two years' imprisonment or a $6,000 fine, and the court must disqualify you from driving for more than one year. Repeat offending can also bring an alcohol interlock or zero-alcohol licence requirement, so early legal advice matters.
My teenager was charged — does that go to the same court?
No. Defendants under 18 are dealt with in the Youth Court, which at Greymouth (Māwhera) sits monthly. It is a closed court — no public, no jury — and a judge decides, with a focus on the young person's circumstances. The most serious charges can still be transferred to the District or High Court.
Can I avoid a conviction even if I did it?
Sometimes. For lower-level offending, Police Adult Diversion can keep a conviction off your record if you complete agreed conditions, and a court can grant a discharge without conviction under section 106 of the Sentencing Act 2002 where the consequences of a conviction would be out of all proportion to the offending. A lawyer can tell you whether either is realistic in your case.
Is this hotline legal advice, and can it get me a lawyer?
This page gives general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it creates no lawyer-client relationship. Legal Hotline is not a law firm. Free first-step help on the West Coast comes from the PDLA line (0800 102 040), the duty lawyer at the Greymouth court, and Community Law Canterbury's Greymouth clinic; for ongoing representation, apply for legal aid or find a lawyer through the New Zealand Law Society.
Are you a New Zealand-qualified criminal lawyer covering the West Coast — Greymouth, Westport, Hokitika and the wider Grey and Westland Districts? We connect people facing charges with local counsel at the moment they are ready to act, from first-appearance advice through to jury trials, drink-driving and youth matters. If you would like to receive matched client enquiries for West Coast criminal work, register your interest to join our lawyer network.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
A criminal charge on the West Coast is daunting, but the system is more navigable once you understand it — which court you are in, what your charge category means, and the free help available before you ever speak to police or enter a plea. New Zealand has one national criminal law, so the rules are the same everywhere; what is local is the Greymouth (Māwhera) District Court and the free services on your doorstep. Use them early. This is general legal information to help you act, not legal advice.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.