The legal aid system has been under strain with settings largely unchanged since 2011 and the number of people eligible for legal aid decreasing. This year, we responded in Budget 2022, which contained an investment of over $148.7 million across four years to strengthen the legal aid system and ensure continued access to justice for New Zealanders who cannot afford legal advice. In short, the changes mean an additional 93,000 more people will be eligible for legal aid from January 2023. Ministry officials will help monitor the effect the changes have once they have been implemented—this will include provider monitoring to see whether the remuneration increases are having an impact on the retention of legal aid lawyers and the volume of legal aid cases that they take. In addition, the Ministry of Justice will also be starting engagement with the profession on provider coverage.