A review of maximum penalties contained in the five major criminal statutes (Crimes Act 1961, Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, Land Transport Act 1998, Arms Act 1983, and Summary Offences Act 1981) was commenced by the Commission. Changes were to be...
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 Public filter Public
- Courts and Dispute Resolution (40) Apply Courts and Dispute Resolution filter
- Criminal (39) Apply Criminal filter
- Civil (36) Apply Civil filter
- Other (33) Apply Other filter
- Human Rights (28) Apply Human Rights filter
- Family (23) Apply Family filter
- Social (22) Apply Social filter
- Commercial (18) Apply Commercial filter
- Property/Trusts (16) Apply Property/Trusts filter
- Evidence (15) Apply Evidence filter
- Customary and Treaty Settlements Law (10) Apply Customary and Treaty Settlements Law filter
- International Law (8) Apply International Law filter
- Consumer (5) Apply Consumer filter
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 September 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The paper for this project was prepared by the Law Commission in response to the invitation implied in subsection (2) of section 28 of the Interpretation Act 1999, which refers to the liability of the Crown
Project status: Closed
Start date 09 December 1999
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project examines the rule of law that no person acquitted of a crime can be prosecuted again for the same offence
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 February 1996
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of the Legislation Manual project is to provide assistance to legislative drafting in New Zealand by providing a comprehensive set of guidelines and thereby making the process more consistent and effective.
Project status: Closed
Start date 06 November 1995
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project addresses the Commission's concern about the relative lack of awareness of international law in New Zealand, and in particular of New Zealand’s international rights and obligations. It aims to contribute towards remedying this...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 March 1992
Last updated 11 May 2015
In consultation with officials of the Ministry of Justice and others, the Commission considers, in this project, whether New Zealand should accept the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and give effect to...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 2004
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviewed the forfeiture provisions under Part XIV of the Customs and Excise Act 1996, having regard to any analogous border control practices in comparable jurisdictions.
Project status: Closed
Start date 13 October 2010
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Commission has undertaken a review of the current regulatory environment for the news media with respect to its adequacy in catering for new and emerging forms of news media – sometimes referred to as the “new media”.
The 3 questions...
Project status: Closed
Start date 07 July 2006
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project was a review of New Zealand's seditious offences. The Commission made proposals for changes to the law that were necessary and desirable in the 2007 Report, Reforming the Law of Sedition.
Project status: Closed
Start date 10 January 2008
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Commission was asked to consider and report on whether existing legislation should be amended to cover the conduct of individuals that creates risk to, or public concern about, the preservation of public safety and security. The work is...