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...
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
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- Calling for submissions (1) Apply Calling for submissions filter
- Researching issues (1) Apply Researching issues filter
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- Awaiting Government Response (3) Apply Awaiting Government Response filter
- (-) Remove Open filter Open
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Areas of law
- (-) Remove Human Rights filter Human Rights
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- (-) Remove Property/Trusts filter Property/Trusts
- Criminal (4) Apply Criminal filter
- Family (3) Apply Family filter
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Project status: Calling for submissions
Start date
Last updated 08 December 2020
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...
Project status: Researching issues
Start date 18 December 2019
Last updated 16 April 2020
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...
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...
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...