This project draws together the major themes of reconciling the public interest in effective determination of the cause of death with the particular cultural, religious and personal beliefs of many New Zealanders, and enabling systematic...
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.
Project status
Areas of law
- (-) Remove Family filter Family
- (-) Remove Customary and Treaty Settlements Law filter Customary and Treaty Settlements Law
- Public (47) Apply Public filter
- Courts and Dispute Resolution (40) Apply Courts and Dispute Resolution filter
- Criminal (37) Apply Criminal filter
- Civil (33) Apply Civil filter
- Other (30) Apply Other filter
- Human Rights (23) Apply Human Rights filter
- Social (21) Apply Social filter
- Commercial (18) Apply Commercial filter
- Property/Trusts (15) Apply Property/Trusts filter
- Evidence (14) Apply Evidence filter
- International Law (6) Apply International Law filter
- Consumer (5) Apply Consumer filter
Project status: Closed
Start date 12 June 2003
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviews the rules relating to the parental status of adults with children, including the review of the legal meaning of parent, the purpose of parenthood laws, and the importance of the legal relationship between a parent and child...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 1996
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviews the law of succession. This is the law which governs how a person's property is to be dealt with when they die.
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 February 2005
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project explores the interaction between custom and human rights in the Pacific, including New Zealand, by articulating some of the issues arising from this interaction and how the two can inform each other.
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 October 2004
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviewed the criminal defence of insanity (section 23 of the Crimes Act 1961), and Ministerial release arrangements for patients detained on the grounds of insanity or unfitness to stand trial.A final report was published and tabled...
Project status: Closed
Start date 19 February 2003
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project recommends changes to the framework for the regulation of life insurers and life insurance products in New Zealand.
Project status: Closed
Start date 09 November 2001
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project considers what changes, if any, are necessary and desirable in the administration, management and procedure of the Family Court in order to facilitate the early resolution of disputes. The Commission was requested to consider:...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 2001
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project considers and reports on: whether taking subsequent law changes into account there remains a need for the continued existence of the Joint Family Homes Act 1964; and if there is a need for its continued existence, whether the Act...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 April 2004
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Law Commission Report, Waka Umanga: a Proposed Law for Māori Governance Entities, was published in May 2006. In 2007, a Waka Umanga (Māori Corporations) Bill was drafted with Parliamentary Counsel office, and consultation with Māori...
Project status: Closed
Start date 17 April 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project discusses the absence of adequate safeguards for the protection of donors of enduring powers of attorney under the provisions of Part IX of the Protection of Personal Property Rights Act 1988.