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...
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 Criminal filter Criminal
- (-) Remove Human Rights filter Human Rights
- (-) Remove Civil filter Civil
- (-) Remove Evidence filter Evidence
- (-) Remove Public filter Public
- (-) Remove Property/Trusts filter Property/Trusts
- Family (2) Apply Family filter
- Commercial (1) Apply Commercial filter
- Courts and Dispute Resolution (1) Apply Courts and Dispute Resolution filter
- International Law (1) Apply International Law filter
- Social (1) Apply Social filter
Project status: Awaiting Government Response
Start date 01 December 2014
Last updated 14 December 2015
Project status: Awaiting Government Response
Start date 15 July 2015
Last updated 12 May 2016
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”...
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: 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: Preparing report
Start date 27 July 2016
Last updated 26 May 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
Last updated 02 June 2020
A class action is a court proceeding in which a group with similar interests collectively sues one or more defendants. The court proceeding is typically brought by a representative plaintiff on behalf of the class. New Zealand does not currently...