The Criminal Procedure (Simplification) project was a joint project between the Ministry of Justice and the Law Commission. It had two objectives: to reduce unnecessary court delays through legislative and operational change, and to create a...
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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- (-) Remove Work on hold filter Work on hold
- Calling for submissions (1) Apply Calling for submissions filter
- Discontinued (1) Apply Discontinued filter
- (-) Remove Awaiting Government Response filter Awaiting Government Response
- Researching issues (2) Apply Researching issues filter
- Open (6) Apply Open filter
- (-) Remove Closed filter Closed
Areas of law
- (-) Remove Public filter Public
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- (-) Remove Other filter Other
- (-) Remove Property/Trusts filter Property/Trusts
- Criminal (37) Apply Criminal filter
- Civil (32) Apply Civil filter
- Human Rights (24) Apply Human Rights filter
- Family (22) Apply Family filter
- Social (21) Apply Social filter
- Commercial (17) Apply Commercial filter
- Evidence (14) Apply Evidence filter
- Customary and Treaty Settlements Law (10) Apply Customary and Treaty Settlements Law filter
- International Law (7) Apply International Law filter
- Consumer (5) Apply Consumer filter
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 August 2006
Last updated 11 May 2015
This independent unit within the Commission drafted a comprehensive package of sentencing and parole guidelines for consideration by the Sentencing Council when it was established in 2008.
Project status: Closed
Start date 15 October 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to assist the Ministry of Justice in the context of the work it is currently doing by way of review of the Law Practitioners Act 1982.
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 October 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to simplify the statutory provisions governing the laying of criminal charges and infringement offences and their progress through the court system to the point of determination, including appeals, so as to remove...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 1996
Last updated 11 May 2015
This is the Commission's second report directly on matters pertaining to New Zealand's international obligations. The purpose of the project is assist members of Parliament and public with both broad background information and focused direction...
Project status: Closed
Start date 14 April 2009
Last updated 11 May 2015
By enabling scrutiny of government activities, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 contribute to public trust and confidence in central and local government. The operating...
Project status: Closed
Start date 17 October 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Statutes Drafting and Compilation Act 1920 was identified by the Commission as being in need of review as part of its wider assessment of New Zealand Statute Law. A Report was released in 2009.
Project status: Closed
Start date 12 October 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project involves examining the possibility of simplifying the expression and content of the law of judicial review in the Judicature Amendment Act 1972 and Part 7 of the High Court Rules. The focus of this review will be procedural; it will...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 January 2002
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to consider: whether there is a need for clarifying or extending the power of the Family Court to require a person to whom Part I of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 applies to live in...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 December 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project to devise a solution to an untidiness in judicial review procedure. The mischief is that there are decisions (exercises of the prerogative for example) which may be subjected to judicial review, but to which the...