5 · Involve issues that span the interests of a number of government agencies and professional groups; · Require substantial long-term commitment and fundamental review; · Involve extensive public or professional consultation; · Need to be done independently of central government agencies because of the existence of vested interests, or a significant difference of views; · Require  independent  consideration  in  order  to  promote  informed  public debate on future policy direction. 11 The  New  Zealand  Law  Commission  has  always  attracted  high  quality  people.   Consider the previous Presidents: · Sir Owen Woodhouse; · Sir Kenneth Keith; · Justice David Baragwanath; · Justice J Bruce Robertson. 12 Some of the first Commissioners have gone on to outstanding careers as well – Sian Elias, Margaret Wilson, Jack Hodder and that was just the first crop.  And Jim   Cameron,   a   former   Deputy   Secretary   for   Justice   was   a   foundation Commissioner.  He is one of the greatest law reformers New Zealand ever had.    The Achievements 13 What of the work of the Commission during the first 20 years?  What has been achieved?  The answer is quite a lot.  There have been 72 final reports since the inception   of   the   Law   Commission.      53   of   them   have   contributed   or   are contributing to the Government’s policy and legislative programme. 14 Among  those  reports  that  have  been  adopted  or  are  in  the  process  of  being adopted  are  a  number  that  have  made  changes  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the entire legal system.   Among those I include: