Claims at least one court hearing a week in Auckland is adjourned or delayed due to lack of security.

It's despite three-quarters of the 100 extra security guards promised in last year's budget being on the ground already.

Lawyer Tony Beach says he experiences delays on a weekly basis - with cases having to be stepped down to find a guard and bring them to the courtroom.

"It seems to have occurred more often recently but it has been an issue in the past."

The Ministry of Justice admits there've been adjournments and delays at Manukau District Court.

It says this can be due to unavailability of court security resources because they're being used elsewhere within the courthouse to manage security risks.

The New Zealand Law Society's Family Law chair Kirsty Swadling says family court proceedings are distressing at the best of times.

"It must be difficult for the parties that are involved [who] expected to have a matter heard only to have the matter put off."