Inquiry
What is an inquiry?
An inquiry is an investigation by the coroner into the facts, cause(s) and circumstances of the death.
Not all deaths reported to the coroner will lead to an inquiry. Sometimes the coroner may order investigations or examinations, medical or otherwise, to help decide whether to open inquiry.
Why does a coroner open an inquiry?
A coroner will open and conduct an inquiry for three purposes:
- to establish:
- that a person has died;
- the person's identity;
- when and where the person died;
- the cause of death; and
- the circumstances of the death;
- to make specific recommendations that, in the coroner's opinion, may, if drawn to public attention, reduce the chances of other deaths occurring in similar circumstances; and
- to determine whether public interest will be served by the death being investigated by another investigating authority, such as Land Transport New Zealand, etc.
An inquiry MUST be opened into all deaths that occur in official custody or care or which are self-inflicted (apparent suicide).
An inquiry may be opened shortly after the death has occurred, but it may be some weeks before the coroner makes a decision on whether to hold an inquest, which is a public hearing to examine all the evidence. Not all inquiries will lead to an inquest.
Other investigations
There may be some situations in which another investigation is being conducted into the cause and circumstances of death, for example OSH (Occupational Safety & Health) may undertake an investigation into a workplace death. In this case, the coroner may decide to adjourn an open inquiry until the conclusion of any external investigation or criminal proceedings.
An inquiry will be resumed as long as it will not prejudice any person being charged with criminal acts. If the results of any criminal proceeding or other investigation establish the purposes of the inquiry as listed above, then the coroner may choose not to proceed with the inquiry.
