Te Aka Matua o te Ture

Law Commission

Better law for Aotearoa New Zealand through independent review

Know what you’re looking for? Search for a project or publication.

He karere

What's new

New study provides invaluable guidance on tikanga and the law

See more news
mountain range with Maori symbols

Kei te tūrama arotahi

In the spotlight

New Study Paper examining tikanga Māori and its place in Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal landscape

Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission has published a Study Paper: He Poutama (NZLC SP24), which completes the tikanga Māori project led by Hon Justice Christian Whata. The Study Paper reviews tikanga in Aotearoa New Zealand law and aims to give guidance to law makers and others interested in the ongoing interaction of tikanga and state law.

Related project

Tikanga Māori

Ngā mahi o te wā

Current work

Ia Tangata

A review of the protections in the Human Rights Act 1993 for people who are transgender, people who are non-binary and people with innate variations of sex characteristics

Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission is examining the protections in the Human Rights Act 1993 for people who are transgender, people who are non-binary and people with innate variations of sex characteristics.

Visit project

Hapori whānui me te tangata mōrea nui: He arotake o te mauhere ārai hē me ngā ōta nō muri whakawhiu

Public safety and serious offenders: A review of preventive detention and post-sentence orders

We are reviewing the laws protecting the public from offenders who pose significant risks through preventive detention, extended supervision orders and public protection orders.

Visit project

Te arotake tuatoru i te Evidence Act 2006

The third review of the Evidence Act 2006

The third and final statutory review by Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission of the Evidence Act 2006 under section 202(1) of the Act.

Visit project

He arotake i te ture mō ngā huarahi whakatau a ngā pakeke

Review of adult decision-making capacity law

Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission is reviewing how the law should respond when an adult’s decision-making is affected.

Visit project
See all projects
LC He Poutama

Tō mātou kawenga i te whakawhanake o te ture

Our role in the development of the law

Initiation

Our law reform reviews are referred to us by the Minister responsible for the Law Commission, who is currently the Minister of Justice.

Research

Throughout a law reform review, we conduct extensive research into the area of law in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.

Engagement

During a law reform review, we talk to a wide range of people to gain the fullest understanding of the issues and ideas for change. We do this through direct consultation and by inviting the public to tell us their views by making a submission.

Recommendations

Our research and engagement inform the recommendations we make to improve the law. At the end of a law reform review, we present our recommendations to the Minister in a final report. The Minister presents the report to Parliament.

Government response

The Government decides whether to implement our recommendations to reform the law and usually issues a formal response, which we publish on our website.

Implementation

The government department responsible for the area of law leads the work to implement the recommendations the Government has accepted. This may include new or amended legislation or changes in operational policy or procedure.

Advice

We also advise our responsible Minister on areas of law for possible future review and reform. To do this, we monitor developments in the law and invite suggestions on areas for reform from the public.

Ā mātou kawerongo

Our news

Published: 21 September 2023

New study provides invaluable guidance on tikanga and the law

Our news

Related project:
Tikanga Māori

Published: 16 August 2023

Newsletter | Te Aka Kōrero No.20

Our news

See all media releases