Cook Islands Ministry of Justice Photo: RNZI / Mary Baines
The Cook Islands Ministry of Justice has shut down customer services at its Land Court Division of the High Court each Tuesday because staff are struggling with the work load.
Secretary Tingika Elikana defended the move despite it being contrary to the ministry's own Code of Civil Procedure.
He said stopping applications on a Tuesday was because of the increasing number coming in and the need to properly process them before they are placed before the court.
Mr Elikana said the extra day would allow staff to make sure all documents are properly files before the cases come before the Land Court.
The 2015/16 Ministry annual report showed a ten percent lift in applications onn the previous year.
