The Law Commission's projects are often in the media. We highlight them below in 'Law Commission in the news'. In 'our latest news', you will find a mix of project updates, publication announcements, and other general Commission news. We also keep catalogues of past media releases, videos and speeches as reference material for our projects.
Law Commission in the news
Our latest news
The Minister responsible for Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission, Hon Kris Faafoi, has recently referred two new projects to the Commission: a review of the role of tikanga and te ao Māori concepts in law, and a review of the legislative settings for preventive detention. The Commission anticipates that it will complete its reviews of succession law, class actions and litigation funding and surrogacy in the 2021/22 year. Work on the new projects will commence when capacity becomes available. The Commission’s work on adult decision-making capacity continues.
Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission has commissioned Professor Janet McLean QC to write a Study Paper concerning Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal and institutional framework for pandemics and other threats. Building on the Commission’s Final Report on Emergencies (NZLC R22, 1991) the paper will undertake a preliminary evaluation of how well Aotearoa New Zealand’s laws and legal institutions anticipated the challenges presented by COVID-19, and identify any questions that ought to be considered to ensure readiness for future emergencies.
The Succession team is currently researching and conducting preliminary engagement on issues with practitioners and experts.
Under the Family Protection Act 1955, all children are entitled to make a claim for provision from the estate if they believe they have not been properly recognised by their deceased parent. The acceptability of adult children pursuing such claims to inherit from their parents is the subject of enduring debate. Over the past decade, at least 93 claims of this type have been lodged.
The Class Actions & Litigation Funding team is currently preparing a consultation document looking at issues raised by these two interesting aspects of civil litigation.
The DNA team is currently drafting a report for presentation to the Minister of Justice this year.
Here’s a quick quiz. If Police take a sample of your DNA, analyse it, and create a profile of you – when should they destroy that information?