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
New Kaikōmihana | Commissioner, Claudia Geiringer, has been welcomed to Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission at a whakatau today led by the Commission’s Māori Liaison Committee chair, the Hon Justice Williams KNZM.
Geiringer is taking leave from her position as chair in Public Law at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington. President of the Commission Amokura Kawharu said it was an important day for the Commission and both she and Justice Williams acknowledged the significant legal expertise Geiringer brings to her new role.
On behalf of Te Aka Matua o te Ture, I am delighted to congratulate Amokura Kawharu, our Tumu Whakarae | President, as one of Ngā Ahurei hou a Te Apārangi new Fellows to have been elected to the Academy of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
This is a significant honour that recognises Amokura’s distinction in research and scholarship, including as the foremost scholar of New Zealand arbitration law and in her role in leading the consideration of te ao Māori in the process of law reform at Te Aka Matua o te Ture.
Justice Minister Kris Faafoi has announced the appointment of three new members of Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission.
The new appointees are:
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.