Rotorua's court system is working much faster since sweeping changes were introduced last year, according to Courts Minister Chester Borrows.
The average age of jury trials and Family Court cases reduced by 22 per cent and 12.2 per cent respectively in the eight months to December 2013.
The age measures how long a case had been in the system from when charges were first laid. Rotorua's results are ahead of nationwide results, with the overall average age of cases reduced by 9 per cent by the end of last year. "As Courts Minister I've been determined to drag the courts system into the 21st century," Mr Borrows said.
Last year, the Ministry of Justice reorganised the district courts - with a goal to halve the time it takes to deliver court services by 2017.
The changes aimed to modernise the courts, improve court processes as well as legislative changes such as the passing of the Criminal Procedure Act, Mr Borrows said.
"The single measure our courts are judged by is how long it takes for a case to move through the system. That's why I've focused our attention on what we can do to reduce delays in our courts, and make the system work faster, without compromising a just outcome."
Rotorua lawyers had mixed opinions on whether the changes had improved the local court system. Director of Families Matter law practice Martin Hine said he had noticed the system was much faster and more "streamlined".
Speeding up cases required a balancing act so the defence had enough time to prepare, but he did not think that had been compromised so far.
"[It's about] balancing the rights of the victims and the rights of the accused."
Solicitor Rob Vigor Brown disagreed, saying there had been no dramatic increase in the speed of the court system.
"I am sceptical that this process is working as well as the ministry says because haste makes waste."
If a defendant had to enter a plea on their second appearance in court, often that did not give lawyers enough time to gather information and instruct their client, he said.
"Often considerable care needs to be given to the question of plea and whilst the new act appears to require an almost immediate plea that could lead to injustice."
People could get "bundled off to jail" and injustice would only become clear in an appeals process, he said.