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Our projects

Each project is an area of law or subject matter that the Law Commission has agreed to review. The Commission works on several projects at a time. Together, these projects make up the Commission's annual work programme.

Use the search filters below to find particular projects. For more information on how we work see how we conduct projects.

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Class Actions and Litigation Funding

Project status: Preparing report Start date Last updated 03 May 2022

A class action is a court proceeding in which a group with similar interests collectively sues one or more defendants. The court proceeding is brought by a representative plaintiff on behalf of the class. We do not currently have class actions in...

Te Kōpū Whāngai: He Arotake | Review of Surrogacy

Project status: Preparing report Start date 23 November 2020 Last updated 30 March 2022

The Government has asked Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission to conduct a review of surrogacy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This review is a comprehensive examination of surrogacy law, regulation and practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. The...

Review of Succession Law

Project status: Awaiting Government Response Start date 18 December 2019 Last updated 15 December 2021

The Law Commission will review the law of succession. The law of succession is the system of rules that governs who gets a person’s property when they die.

In July 2019 the Minister Responsible for the Law Commission requested that the...

Protection of Classified and Security Sensitive Information

Project status: Awaiting Government Response Start date 01 December 2014 Last updated 20 October 2021

This project reviews the laws that determine how security sensitive information should be dealt with in court proceedings. The review looks at how to protect information that may prejudice New Zealand’s security. It also considers whether the...

Review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976

Project status: Closed Start date 24 May 2016 Last updated 14 October 2021

This project examined New Zealand’s relationship property legislation.

The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA) sets out the rules for how property owned by either or both partners is divided when they separate or when one of them dies...

He Arotake i te Ture mō ngā Huarahi Whakatau a ngā Pakeke | Review of Adult Decision-making Capacity Law

Project status: Researching issues Start date 06 October 2021 Last updated 06 October 2021

Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission (the Commission) will undertake a review of the law relating to adult decision-making capacity.

 

...

Review of the Law of Privacy

Project status: Closed Start date 12 October 2006 Last updated 20 September 2021

This project involves four stages, with publications at each stage.

Stage 1: Policy Overview was a high-level analysis to assess privacy values, changes in technology, international trends, and their implications for New Zealand law.  It...

Declaratory Judgments

Project status: Discontinued Start date 27 July 2016 Last updated 06 April 2021

The declaratory judgment is an important judicial remedy.  It provides an efficient and effective means by which parties can clarify and establish their legal rights and obligations, without the need for further remedies. There is, however,...

Second Review of the Evidence Act 2006

Project status: Closed Start date 20 February 2017 Last updated 03 September 2019

For nearly 30 years the Law Commission has been engaged in reforming the law of evidence in New Zealand. 

In August 1989 the Minister of Justice asked the Commission to review all evidence law to make it as clear, simple and accessible as...

Alternative approaches to abortion law

Project status: Closed Start date 27 February 2018 Last updated 30 August 2019

On 27 February 2018 the Minister of Justice wrote to the Law Commission noting the Government was considering how best to ensure New Zealand’s abortion laws are consistent with treating abortion as a health issue.

The Minister asked the...

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