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
Alternative models for prosecuting and trying criminal cases Call for Feedback This project has arisen from the Commission’s recommendation in their 2008 report, Disclosure to Court of Defendants’ Previous Convictions, Similar Offending, and Bad Character (NZLC R103) 2008. More	Online consultation, 14 Feb 2012 Alternative Trial Processes Consultation
Law Relating to Civil Penalties Work in Progress Civil penalties have been an increasing important feature of regulatory legislation in New Zealand. This review will look at the law relating to civil penalties, with emphasis on the circumstances in which they should be used and what sort of framework should be devised for them. More
Monitoring of the Evidence Act Work in Progress I. Report on Veracity and Propensity Provisions: In Disclosure to Court of Defendants' Previous Convictions, Similar Offending and Bad Character (NZLC R103), we recommended that we should monitor the operation of sections 37 to 43 of the Evidence Act 2006 (the veracity and propensity provisions), and provide advice to the government. More	Ministerial Briefing, 1 Apr 2010 Ministerial Briefing -Monitoring of the Evidence Act 2006
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 Privacy Awaiting Government Response 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Review of Civil List Act 1979 Closed This Act has not been reviewed for many years and is out of date in a number of respects.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 the 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 joint and several liability rule determines the liability of multiple parties in civil proceedings where a person has suffered loss, and how responsibilities for the loss are allocated among thMore
Review of Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 Awaiting Government Response 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 Work in Progress 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 central and local government.More	Issues Paper, 29 Sep 2010 NZLC IP18 The Public's Right to Know
Review of Regulatory Gaps and the New Media Call for Submissions Hon Simon Power, the Minister Responsible for the Law Commission, has asked the Commission to undertake a review of the current regulatory regime for news media with respect to its adequacy in cateMore	Issues Paper, 12 Dec 2011 The News Media meets 'New Media': Rights, Responsibilities and Regulation in the Digital Age
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. More	Submissions, 19 Aug 2011 Individuals
Review of the Credit (Repossession) Act 1997 Work in Progress The Law Commission will work 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 with it.More	Issues Paper, 18 Jul 2011 NZLC IP25 Review of the Credit (Repossession) Act 1997
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 Call for Submissions The Judicature Act 1908 is 102 years old and has been amended many times. It requires some reorganisation and modernisation. More	Issues Paper, 23 Feb 2012 NZLC IP29 Review of the Judicature Act 1908: Towards a Consolidated Courts Act
Review of the Law of Trusts Call for Submissions The Law Commission has published four issues paper in its review of the law of trusts. More	Issues Paper, 19 Dec 2011 Court Jurisdiction, Trading Trusts and other issues: Review of Law of Trusts Fifth Issues 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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