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 Law Commission has today provided a ministerial briefing paper to the Minister of Justice, Hon Andrew Little, advising on alternative approaches that could be taken to abortion law if the Government decides to treat abortion as a health issue.
The briefing paper was requested by the Minister in February this year. It examines the criminal aspects of abortion law, the statutory grounds for abortion and the process for receiving services.
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The Law Commission is inviting public input on how New Zealand’s abortion laws could be made consistent with treating abortion as a health issue.
On 27 February the Minister of Justice, Hon Andrew Little, asked the Law Commission to provide him with a briefing on what alternative approaches could be taken in our legal framework to align with a health approach.
The Commission has created a website that explains the current law and the process for receiving abortion services.
The Law Commission has received over 300 submissions on its review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. The submissions and feedback from the public meetings held around the country have given the Commission plenty to consider.
Law Commissioner Helen McQueen says consultation has helped the Commission to broaden its ideas and develop new possibilities for reform.
"There are a number of issues where, following public consultation, we have developed our thinking beyond the reform options signalled in our Issues Paper," says Helen McQueen.
The Law Commission has a new project looking at both class actions and litigation funding. While the project is not currently a priority, the President of the Law Commission Sir Douglas White spoke to a symposium at Auckland University in March on the future of class actions.
Sir Douglas’s full speech is here. Short excerpts of his speech are below.
Seven years after the Law Commission completed its review of privacy law the government has introduced a Bill to implement is recommendations.
The Bill, which draws on recommendations in the Commission’s Final Reports, would strengthen New Zealand’s privacy protections.