"It's pretty difficult to get someone to cover my position so I usually get it on those grounds. Plus my work doesn't cover jury service so I'd lose money if I didn't go to work."
Many others cited personal circumstances, and almost 100 said they couldn't be on a jury because of religious beliefs.
Rotorua barrister and solicitor Martin Hine said the numbers were disappointing because jury duty was a cornerstone of Western democracy.
"They [excuse themselves] for the usual reason that people don't like coming to court. It inconveniences them, they can't be bothered or they'd rather go to work.
"The establishment of guilt or innocence is a very important dynamic in our society. The consequences are huge. So it's disappointing when people want to absent themselves from it."
Jurors were invaluable because they brought in a fresh pair of eyes.
"They're not tarnished by sitting day in day out like our judges do."
However, imposing penalties on jurors for dodging their duties was "using a sledgehammer to crack a peanut" he said.
Nearly half a million Kiwis have failed to show up for jury duty nationwide since October 2010.
But the Justice Ministry says measures introduced to curb people dodging their civic responsibility are paying off.
From October 2010 until June this year, 478,470 New Zealanders shirked jury duty nationwide.
Of these, 101,916 had no legitimate reason while 100,643 deferred the service to a more convenient time.
Business or job obligations was the most popular excuse, followed by being aged 65 or over.
Family commitments were also common, as was health, physical disability, personal circumstances, and having served already in the last two years.
However, the numbers appear to be dropping, with 145,605 dodging service last year compared with 199,662 in 2011.
District courts general manager Tony Fisher said the ministry had introduced two key changes to the jury system to improve attendance since 2010.
Jury district boundaries were extended from 30km around each jury courthouse to 45km, and jurors could now postpone service to a more convenient time - rather than being excused outright.
Jurors can also be excused if they have a criminal history, intellectual disability or "ineligible occupation".
Late last month the High Court quashed a 10-day jail sentence for a man who refused to sit on a jury.
James David McAllister was found in contempt of court for refusing to take the oath or affirmation after being selected for a jury in Auckland District Court on July 10.
His prison sentence was replaced with a $750 fine.
Judges can impose a $1000 fine on people who refuse to front for jury service, but the penalty has only been imposed once, in 2007.
Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said though jury service might cause minor issues for some employers, the system was flexible enough for most businesses to work around.
What jurors get
* For each half-day: $31
* If at court between 6pm and 9pm: $89
* If at court after 9pm: $127
* Rates increase if jurors serve more than six days.