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”...
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
- (-) Remove Discontinued filter Discontinued
- (-) Remove Researching issues filter Researching issues
- (-) Remove Awaiting Government Response filter Awaiting Government Response
- Open (5) Apply Open filter
- Closed (47) Apply Closed filter
Areas of law
- (-) Remove Civil filter Civil
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- (-) Remove Property/Trusts filter Property/Trusts
- Criminal (3) Apply Criminal filter
- Evidence (3) Apply Evidence filter
- Human Rights (3) Apply Human Rights filter
- International Law (3) Apply International Law filter
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- Courts and Dispute Resolution (2) Apply Courts and Dispute Resolution filter
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Project status: Awaiting Government Response
Start date 15 July 2015
Last updated 12 May 2016
Project status: Discontinued
Start date 27 July 2016
Last updated 06 April 2021
The declaratory judgment is an important judicial remedy. It provides an efficient and effective means by which parties can clarify and establish their legal rights and obligations, without the need for further remedies. There is, however,...
Project status: Awaiting Government Response
Start date 01 December 2014
Last updated 20 October 2021
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...
Project status: Awaiting Government Response
Start date 23 November 2020
Last updated 27 May 2022
The Government has asked Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission to conduct a review of surrogacy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This review is a comprehensive examination of surrogacy law, regulation and practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. The...
Project status: Awaiting Government Response
Start date
Last updated 27 June 2022
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...
Project status: Researching issues
Start date 06 October 2021
Last updated 29 June 2022
Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission (the Commission) will undertake a review of the law relating to adult decision-making capacity.
...