Aims and objectives

The Law Commission investigates and reports to Parliament on how New Zealand laws can be improved. It reviews the law and processes in specific areas selected by it or referred to it by the Minister Responsible for the Law Commission. The Commission also assists government departments and Crown entities in reviews of the law and is regularly called on to assist Parliamentary select committees.

Cabinet procedures introduced in 2007 gave the Commission a new role in implementing reports after publication.  These procedures have led to productive collaboration with other agencies and are effective in developing legislation.

The objectives of the Law Commission are to improve:
• the content of the law
• the law-making process
• the administration of the law
• access to justice
• dispute resolution between individuals
• dispute resolution between individuals and the State.

Legislation Advisory Committee (LAC)

The Law Commission provides support to the Legislation Advisory Committee. The purpose of the LAC includes improving the quality of law making by attempting to ensure that legislation gives effect to the underlying policy and that it conforms to LAC guidelines. Our legal and policy staff analyse all Government bills for compliance with the LAC guidelines and we report to the Committee on this. 

Legislation Design Committee (LDC)

The President of the Commission also convenes the Legislation Design Committee. The LDC is a high level interagency resource available to provide advice to agencies during the development phase of new legislation and to discuss the legislative framework options.  It does not deal with policy formulation but explores the legal and constitutional implications of the legislation and its coherence with other statutes.  In effect it ensures consistency with LAC Guidelines at an early stage of the policy process.