Justices of the Peace (JPs) are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice following nomination by Members of Parliament. There are about 10,000 JPs in New Zealand.
JPs principally serve as witnesses for documents, such as statutory declarations, wills and insurance claims, although they can also grant search warrants and sometimes assist District Courts in adjudicating minor criminal and traffic charges. JPs are listed under 'Justices of the Peace' in the Yellow Pages.
