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The Law Commission report Search and Surveillance Powers (NZLC R97 was tabled in Parliament in August 2007. Subsequently, the Commission worked with agencies across government to develop legislation to implement the report and the Search and Surveillance Powers Bill was introduced in September 2008. This Bill was replaced by the Search and Surveillance Bill in July 2009, which extends the generic regime proposed in the Commission’s report to a wider range of agencies and search powers than the first Bill. It also includes a number of changes to deal with issues identified after the introduction of the first Bill. The Justice and Electoral Committee asked for submissions on the Bill by 18 September 2009.
The Bill was reported back from select committee in October 2010 and is currently awaiting its Second Reading
References to the review in the media
Scoop: 'Amendments strengthen search and surveillance legislation' 5 March 2012
NZ Herald: 'What's at stake in surveillance-law wrangle' 1 October 2011
Dominion Post via Stuff: 'Merit in surveillance legislation but concerns too' 28 September 2011
Scoop: Video Surveillance: Government Plans to Override Supreme Court Ruling 20 September 2011
The Press: Law hinders Police 19 September 2011
NZLC R97 Search And Surveillance Powers
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Published 30 Jun 2007This report makes 300 recommendations for clarifying, rationalising and codifying the present law relating to the search and surveillance powers of law enforcement agencies. The recommendations include a number of proposals for modification or additions to the present law.
NZLC PP50 Entry, Search and Seizure
Published 1 Apr 2002This is the first discussion paper (NZLC PP50) of an intended comprehensive examination of central and local government agency powers to enter private property, carry out searches, and seize goods for use as evidence.