Project Overview
The purpose of this project is to make the law of evidence as clear, simple and accessible as practicable, and to facilitate the fair, just and speedy judicial resolution of disputes. In April 1991 the Law Commission published the first of a series of discussion papers on aspects of evidence law. The final Report sets out the Commission’s recommendations in the form of a draft statute. The papers in this project are on codification the principles for reform and hearsay are the first of a series of Law Commission discussion papers on aspects of evidence law. An ealier options paper on hearsay has also been added to this project.
The Law Commission’s reference on evidence has the following purpose:
To make the law of evidence as clear, simple and accessible as practicable, and to facilitate the fair, just and speedy judicial resolution of disputes.
With this purpose in mind the Law Commission is asked to examine the statutory and common law governing evidence in proceedings before courts and tribunals and make recommendations for its reform with a view to codification.
The evidence reference may be read together with the criminal procedure reference, the purpose of which is:
To devise a system of criminal procedure for New Zealand that will ensure the fair trial of persons accused of offences, protect the rights and freedoms of all persons suspected or accused of offences, and provide effective and efficient procedures for the investigation and prosecution of offences and the hearing of criminal cases.