Speeches & Papers

Speeches and papers presented by Commissioners, consultants and staff are available here, along with information from Australasian Law Reform Agencies Conferences (ALRAC) held in New Zealand.

Speeches

The Law Commission's Liquor Review (PDF 530 KB)
Date of publication: 24 Apr 2009
Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the NZ Police 'Alcohol Related Harm' Breakfast in Nelson on 24 April 2009.

The Law Commission's Liquor Review (PDF 537 KB)
Date of publication: 24 Feb 2009
Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the PAN Liquor Industry Symposium in Auckland on 24 February 2009.

The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and the Police (PDF 893 KB)
Date of publication: 8 Dec 2008
Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the Inaugural Human Rights and Policing Conference in Melbourne on 8 December 2008.

Introduction to the Standards and Regulation Workshop (PDF 581 KB)
Date of publication: 27 Nov 2008
Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the Standards and Regulation Workshop in Wellington on 27 November 2008.

Privacy and the Courts (PDF 616 KB)
Date of publication: 27 Aug 2008
Speech given by Emeritus Professor John Burrows at the Privacy Forum in Wellington, 27 August 2008

Evaluating the Privacy Act (PDF 545 KB)
Date of publication: 27 Aug 2008
Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the Privacy Forum in Wellington on 27 August 2008

The Sale of Liquor, Public Law and the Law Commission (PDF 142 KB)
Date of publication: 15 Aug 2008

Speech given by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the LexisNexis Public and Administrative Law Conference in Auckland regarding the Sale of Liquor review, Public Law and the Law Commission.

Public Law and the Law Commission (PDF 172 KB)
Date of publication: 14 Feb 2008
Speech presented to the Public and Administrative Law Conference, at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, Wellington, 14 February 2008 by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President Law Commission

A HARD LOOK AT THE NEW ZEALAND EXPERIENCE WITH THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT AFTER 25 YEARS (PDF 268 KB)
Date of publication: 27 Nov 2007
Address to International Conference of Information Commissioners, Wellington, 27 November 2007

Reflections on the New Zealand Law Commission (PDF 92 KB)
Date of publication: 24 Jul 2007
Address by the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister to launch the book, Reflections on the New Zealand Law Commission, containing papers given at the twentieth anniversary seminar of the Law Commission.

A video of the speech can be viewed at stuff.co.nz

The Law Commission's 20th anniversary publication Reflections on the New Zealand Law Commission - Papers from the Twentieth Anniversary Seminar, can be purchased from LexisNexis.

The Law Commission's New Programme (PDF 119 KB)
Date of publication: 12 Oct 2006
Address to the Council of the New Zealand Law Society. Thursday, 12th October, 2006 by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President Law Commission

Opening Address of the 20th Anniversary of the Law Commission (PDF 24 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
The Opening Address to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 25 August 2006 by The Honourable Anand Satyanand, Governor General

Innovation In New Zealand Statute Law (PDF 270 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
Paper delivered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 25 August 2006 by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President, Law Commission.

Innovation In New Zealand Criminal Law (PDF 124 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
A paper delivered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 25 August 2006 by The Hon Justice Bruce Robertson.

Reflections upon Experience (PDF 63 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
Paper delivered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 25 August 2006 by Rt Hon Sir Owen Woodhouse

Interweavers: The Contribution of the Judiciary to New Zealand Law (PDF 98 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
Paper delivered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 25th August 2006 by The Chief Justice Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias

New Zealand's Constitution - Is it brilliant or odd? (PDF 105 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
Paper delivered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 25 August 2006 by His Excellency Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith

Reforming Thoughts Across The Tasman (PDF 174 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
A paper delivered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 25 August 2006 by The Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG.

New Zealand Law and Maori (PDF 234 KB)
Date of publication: 25 Aug 2006
A paper delivered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Law Commission, Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 25 August 2006 by The Hon Justice David Baragwanath.

Stable Governmentand the role of Parliament (PDF 108 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Aug 2006
Speech presented to the CPA Australian and Pacific Regional Conference, Parliament, Wellington, 15 August 2006 by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission.

Speech : SENTENCING GUIDELINES AND PAROLE REFORM (PDF 73 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Aug 2006
Remarks made by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the commission, made at the release of the report.

Law Reform and the Law Commission in New Zealand after 20 years – we need to try a little harder (PDF 237 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 18 Apr 2006
An address to the New Zealand Centre for Public Law, Victoria University Of Wellington, Thursday, 30th March 2006, by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

(PDF NaN KB)
Date of publication:

The Law Reform Enterprise in New Zealand (PDF 132 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 17 Feb 2006
An address to the Board of the New Zealand Law Society, 17 February 2006, by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

The Bill of Rights Fifteen Years On (PDF 143 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 10 Feb 2006
Keynote Speech at the Ministry of Justice Symposium, 10 February 2006, by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission.

The Treaty of Waitangi - Where to From Here? Looking Back to Move Forward (PDF 126 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 3 Feb 2006
A presentation by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer to the Te Papa Treaty of Waitangi Debate Series, 2 February 2006.

Access for all to the Law and its Protection (PDF 29 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 25 Jul 05
Address to the Pacific Judicial Conference in Port Vila, Vanuatu 25-29 July 2005 by Justice J Bruce Robertson.

Law Reform. What is knitting? How do we stick to it? (PDF 66 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Mar 05
Speech presented to the ALREASA Conference held in Cape Town 15-17 March 2005 by Justice J Bruce Robertson.

The Rule of Law, Biculturalism and Multiculturalism (PDF 129 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 1 Jul 05
Paper presented to the ALTA conference held in July 2005 by Justice Durie.

Papers

Briefing for incoming Minister (PDF 149 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 21 Oct 2005
Briefing for the incoming Minister Responsible for the Law Commission

Evaluation of the Law Commission (PDF 754 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 28 Apr 2000
Report for the Associate Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Hon Margaret Wilson, by Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Partner, Chen & Palmer, 28 April 2000.

ALRAC Conference

2004 Opening Address (PDF 133 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by Rt Hon Thomas Gault

2004 Session 1 - Law Reform Potential in the Pacific Area (PDF 197 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by His Excellency Tuiloma Neroni Slade

2004 Session 2A - Law Reform and Accessibility (PDF 271 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by Hon Justice Roslyn Atkinson

2004 Session 2A - Law Reform and Accessibility (PDF 315 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by Mr George Tanner QC

2004 Session 2B - Law Reform and Alternative Dispute Resolution (PDF 235 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by Ms Margaret Shone QC

2004 Session 3 - Law Reform and Politicians (PDF 110 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by Mr Tim Barnett MP

2004 Session 3 - Law Reform and Politicians (PDF 240 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by Mr Rob Hudson MP

2004 Session 3 - Law Reform and Politicians (PDF 212 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04
by Mr Richard Worth MP

2004 Session 4 - Trans Tasman Law Reform Potential (PDF 172 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Apr 04
by Ms Jane Diplock, AO

2004 - Session 5A - Delivering Administrative Justice: The Role of Tribunals (PDF 495 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Apr 04
by Hon Justice Michael Barker and Hon Justice Ralph Simmonds

2004 Session 5A - Appendix (PDF 185 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Apr 04

2004 Session 5B - Access to Justice for Children: The Voice of the Child in Custody and Access Disputes (PDF 345 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Apr 04
by Professor Christine Davies QC

2004 Session 6 - Law Reform and Indigeniety (PDF 187 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Apr 04
'Towards Mutual Benefit' The inquiry into Customary Law in the Northern Territory of Australia and other Initivates - by Richard Coates

2004 Session 6 - Law Reform and Indigeniety (PDF 176 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Apr 04
Going Native: What Indigeniety Should Look like in the Morning - by Mr Stephen Franks MP

2004 Session 6 - Maori-Specific Provisions in Legislation (PDF 349 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 15 Apr 04
by Dr Mason Durie CMNZ

Session 7 - Meeting of the Law Reform Agencies (PDF 168 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 16 Apr 04
Minutes from the meeting

2004 Session 8A - Remote and Intimate Justice (PDF 177 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 16 Apr 04
Challenges for Courts of the Future - by Dr David Tait

2004 Session 8A - Remote and Intimate Justice (PDF 134 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 16 Apr 04
Commentary by Hon Justice Hugh Williams

2004 Session 8A - In Search of an Accommodating Courts Architecture (PDF 378 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 16 Apr 04
Breaking away from the tyranny of the fluorescent tube and the air conditioner - by Professor Graham Brawn

2004 Session 8B - Law Reform Agencies: The Essential Elements (PDF 275 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 16 Apr 04
by Ms Sandra Petersson

2004 Session 8B - Commentary (PDF 132 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 16 Apr 04
by Mr Hezekiah L. Awaseb

2004 - Address by the Attorney General (PDF 80 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 2004
Speech made at Icon Resturant

2004 Final Session (PDF 176 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 16 Apr 04
Has Professional Law Reform Met Expectation? - by Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith QC QBE

2004 - Access to Justice - India Law Commission (PDF 237 KB) | view as html
Date of publication: 14 Apr 04