<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228616-12-000019.txt : 20121025
<SEC-HEADER>0001228616-12-000019.hdr.sgml : 20121025
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121025154755
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228616-12-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121024
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121025
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121025

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHN HANCOCK INVESTORS TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000759828
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-663-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN INVESTORS TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CUNNINGHAM WILLIAM H DR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189132

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04173
		FILM NUMBER:		121161413

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UNIV. OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 21ST & GUADAL
		STREET 2:		HARRY RANSOM CENTER, ROOM 3.358
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78712
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-10-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000759828</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JOHN HANCOCK INVESTORS TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189132</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CUNNINGHAM WILLIAM H DR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JOHN HANCOCK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>601 CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Trustee of the Fund</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common shares of beneficial interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>114</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>367</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common shares of beneficial interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.2671</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>467</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kinga Kapuscinski, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-10-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>cunningham2012maypoa.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA
<TEXT>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all by these presents, which the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints John J. Danello, Kinga Kapuscinski, Thomas M. Kinzler, Nicholas J.
Kolokithas, Julie B. Lyman, Patricia A. Morisette, Christopher Sechler, Betsy
Anne Seel, Steven Sunnerberg and Andrew Wilkins signing singly, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact to:

     (1)  execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
          capacity as a trustee of the registered investment companies advised
          by John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the "Company") and set forth on
          Appendix A, Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

     (2)  do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
          which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such
          Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and execute any amendment or amendments
          thereto, and timely file such form with the United States Securities
          and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar authority;
          and

     (3)  take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
          foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of
          benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the
          undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such
          attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power
          of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
          conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
          attorney-in-fact's discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact full power and authority
to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary,
or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein
granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such
attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming,
nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of this 8th day of May, 2012.


                                            /s/ William H. Cunningham
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            William H. Cunningham

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX A

John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund
John Hancock Emerging Markets Income Fund
John Hancock Flexible Income Opportunities Fund
John Hancock Income Securities Trust
John Hancock Investors Trust
John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund
John Hancock Strategic Diversified Income Fund
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
