Our Work

Each project is a discrete area of law or subject matter the Law Commission has agreed to review.

The Commission works on a number of projects at any point in time. Together they make up the Commission’s annual work programme as agreed with the Minister Responsible for the Law Commission by July each year.

Projects	Latest Publications
Review of Contempt of Court Work in Progress The objective of the law of contempt of court is to protect the integrity of the justice system and a defendant’s right to a fair trial.More	Terms of Reference, 11 Apr 2013 Review of Contempt of Court
Alternative models for prosecuting and trying criminal cases Closed This project arose from the Commission’s recommendation in their Report, Disclosure to Court of Defendants’ Previous Convictions, Similar Offending, and Bad Character (NZLC R10More	Submissions, 7 Dec 2012 Submissions on Issues Paper 30 Alternative Pre-trial and Trial Processes: Possible Reforms
Law Relating to Civil Penalties Work in Progress The Law Commission has been asked to review the use and design of civil pecuniary penalties. These are monetary penalties, imposed by the High Court in civil proceedings on the balance of proMore	Issues Paper, 8 Nov 2012 NZLC IP33 Civil Pecuniary Penalties
Review of Civil List Act 1979 Closed This Act has not been reviewed for many years and is out of date in a number of respects. The Act covers a range of interests, including remuneration of the Governor-General, Ministers and Members of Parliament, which make independent review desirable. More	Legislation, 5 Oct 2011 Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill
Review of Crown Proceedings Act 1950 Work in Progress The ability of citizens to bring civil legal proceedings against the Crown and its servants is an important part of New Zealand’s constitution, and is protected by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. More
Review of Joint and Several Liability Work in Progress The Law Commission has been asked to review the joint and several liability rule, and to consider alternatives. More	Submissions, 8 Mar 2013 Submissions on Issues Paper 32 Review of Joint and Several Liability
Review Of Maximum Penalties Work in Progress Maximum penalties contained in the five major criminal statutes are to be reviewed: Crimes Act 1961, Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, Land Transport Act 1998, Arms Act 1983, and Summary Offences Act 1981. More
Review of Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 Closed It has been more than 30 years since the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 was first enacted. The Act has been amended on numerous occasions and is complex and difficult to understand and navigate. More	Report, 3 May 2011 NZLC R122 Controlling and Regulating Drugs - A Review of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
Review of Official Information Act 1982 and Local Government Official Information Act 1987 Closed By enabling scrutiny of government activities, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 contribute to public trust and confidence in cenMore	Submissions, 13 Aug 2012 NZLC 18 Submissions on Issues Paper 18, The Public’s Right to Know: A Review of the Official Information Act 1982 and Parts 1-6 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
Review Of Privacy Closed This project involves four stages, with publications at each stage. More	Report, 2 Aug 2011 NZLC R123 Review of the Privacy Act 1993: Review of the Law of Privacy Stage 4
Review of Regulatory Gaps and the New Media Awaiting Government Response The Commission has undertaken a review of the current regulatory environment for the news media with respect to its adequacy in catering for new and emerging forms of news media – sometimes referred to as the “new media”. More	Video, 4 Apr 2013 Media3 Interview with Cate Brett on media regulation in New Zealand
Review of the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 Work in Progress The Law Commission is undertaking a first principles review of the Burial and Cremation Act 1964. The Act’s primary purpose is to ensure provision is made for the burial of the dead in More	Submissions, 19 Aug 2011 Submissions on Issues Paper 23, Final Words: Death and Cremation Certification in New Zealand
Review of the Credit (Repossession) Act 1997 Awaiting Government Response The Law Commission has worked closely with the Ministry of Economic Development in a project to rewrite the Credit (Repossession) Act 1997, which has been found to have many practical difficulties More	Report, 30 Apr 2012 NZLC R124 Consumers and Repossession: A Review of the Credit (Repossession) Act 1997
Review of the Evidence Act 2006 Awaiting Government Response Section 202(1) of the Evidence Act required the Commission to report to the Minister of Justice on the following matters: More	Report, 4 Apr 2013 NZLC R127 The 2013 Review of the Evidence Act 2006
Review of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 Work in Progress The Incorporated Societies Act 1908 is uncomfortably old and has been little amended since its enactment.More	Issues Paper, 22 Jun 2011 NZLC IP24 Reforming The Incorporated Societies Act 1908
Review of the Judicature Act 1908 and Consolidation of Courts Legislation Awaiting Government Response The Judicature Act 1908 is over one hundred years old and has been amended many times. Many of the sections in the Act are outdated, and it contains “hidden” commercial law More	Report, 27 Nov 2012 NZLC R126 Review of the Judicature Act 1908: Towards a New Courts Act
Review of the Law of Trusts Work in Progress The Law Commission has published six papers in its review of the law of trusts. The latest paper, Review of the Law of Trusts: Preferred Approach, is open for submissions. More	Issues Paper, 13 Nov 2012 NZLC IP31 Review of the Law of Trusts: Preferred Approach Paper
Simplification of Criminal Procedure (including Name Suppression) Work in Progress The Criminal Procedure (Simplification) project was a joint project between the Ministry of Justice and the Law Commission. It had two objectives: to reduce unnecessary court delays through legislative and operational change, and to create a more accessible and simplified criminal procedure. More	Legislation, 16 Nov 2010 Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill

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