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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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The Use of DNA in Criminal Investigations

Project status: Awaiting Government Response Start date 27 July 2016 Last updated 24 November 2020

The forensic analysis of DNA is a powerful tool in solving crime. However, the use of DNA in criminal investigations also raises important legal and ethical issues.

In New Zealand the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995...

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...

Search & Surveillance Act 2012

Project status: Awaiting Government Response Start date 28 June 2016 Last updated 15 October 2018

The Law Commission and the Ministry of Justice conducted a review of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, as is required by section 357 of that Act. The review was referred to us by the then Minister of Justice on 28 June 2016 and we jointly...

Creation of a separate crime of non-fatal strangulation

Project status: Closed Start date 15 July 2015 Last updated 12 October 2016

An element of the revised Law Commission work programme 2014/15 issued by the Minister of Justice included creation of a separate crime of non-fatal strangulation.

In its fourth Annual Report the Family Violence Death Review Committee...

Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters

Project status: Closed Start date 01 November 2013 Last updated 28 September 2016

This review covers the Extradition Act 1999 and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1992. These Acts provide a framework for formal assistance between New Zealand and foreign governments in the investigation and prosecution of crime. They...

Alternative Models for Prosecuting and Trying Criminal Cases

Project status: Closed Start date 01 July 2009 Last updated 15 June 2016

This project arose from the Commission’s recommendation in their Report, Disclosure to Court of Defendants’ Previous Convictions, Similar Offending, and Bad Character (R103, 2008). The Commission recommended that Government should...

Victims of family violence who commit homicide

Project status: Awaiting Government Response Start date 15 July 2015 Last updated 12 May 2016

In 2001 the Law Commission published a report examining the legal defences available to protect those who commit criminal offences as a reaction to domestic violence: “Some Criminal defences with Particular Reference to Battered Defendants”...

Protection of Classified and Security Sensitive Information

Project status: Awaiting Government Response Start date 01 December 2014 Last updated 14 December 2015

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...

Admissibility of previous convictions

Project status: Closed Start date 01 April 2007 Last updated 11 May 2015

For this project, the Commission reviews existing rules of evidence around admissibility of previous convictions, similar offending and bad character. In particular, the extent to which the court is made aware of prior convictions of an accused,...

Wrongful Conviction

Project status: Closed Start date 03 March 1998 Last updated 11 May 2015

This purpose of this project is to advise whether compensation should be paid to those who have been wrongly prosecuted or convicted of an offence, and if so, to recommend a systematic basis upon which compensation may be determined and paid.

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