Read the article for some natty graphs on attendance/non-attendance, reasons people were excused, and costs. From the article:

>Jury summons letters suggest there’s a financial cost to not turning up. “If you don’t show up, or if you refuse or neglect to serve on a jury, you can be [fined up to $1,000](https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/jury-service/respond-to-a-jury-summons/) under the Juries Act 1981, or you may be arrested and taken to court for jury service,” reads the standard text on letters. In practice, though, this fine is [rarely imposed](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300272174/jury-dodgers-go-unpunished-amid-culture-of-avoidance). \[...\]

>Jury service is a reminder that the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen isn’t just about voting every three years, but participating more broadly. “It is a real insight to what is happening in the world, how terribly victimised people are, understanding some of the reasons people are causing harm,” Money says. “You can’t get that from watching trials on American TV.” She would like to see the Ministry of Justice emphasising how and why jury service is important. “I would love to see it from the perspective of being a social responsibility, not trying to wrangle out of it.”

I'm not sure fining people would actually improve things, which might be why they don't seem to be fining people. Maybe they need to be calling up more people. I've never been called for jury service and TBH I'm annoyed because I'd like to do it for the reasons in the second quoted para from the article. It's a civic duty and we can all use a reminder that being an active citizen isn't just about mUh RiGhtS. It also comes with responsibility and acts of service. 

A third of people called for jury service last year didn’t show up. Is the system broken?