Issue 4

This newsletter calls your attention to some of the highlights of last year and introduces our work programme for the 2009/10 year.

As our statute book grows it inevitably becomes more unwieldy and harder for people to find out about the law that affects them.  This three year project was about how to present legislation so that people can find it easily and how to ensure the statute book is kept up to date.  The project was completed with publication of two reports last year. 

Regulation of the supply of alcohol is a highly controversial, multifaceted topic which affects us all.  To be comprehensive in our review of the regulatory framework we are embarking on very extensive stakeholder and public consultation.

The Search and Surveillance Bill, providing the framework for agency enforcement powers, implements our 2007 report Search and Surveillance Powers (NZLC R97), one of the largest reports the Commission has published, and the culmination of several years of inter-agency co-operation and consultation.  The Bill had its first reading on 4 August 2009.

Criminal courts have long experienced problems with delays and inadequate incentives for cases to be progressed efficiently.  The Ministry of Justice and Law Commission are working together on the Criminal Procedure (Simplification) project to review and implement improvements in both the summary and indictable criminal jurisdictions.

There are 23 projects on the Commission's 2009/10 work programme.  This article gives an overview for each project and describes progress so far.