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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.

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Protection of Classified and Security Sensitive Information

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...

Victims of family violence who commit homicide

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”...

Search & Surveillance Act 2012

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...

Review of Succession Law

Project status: Open Start date Last updated 03 September 2019

The law of succession is the system of rules that determines who gets people’s property when they die. Succession law covers many matters, such as: 

  • the rights of a will maker to dispose of their property as they wish; 
  • who...

The Use of DNA in Criminal Investigations

Project status: Reviewing submissions Start date 27 July 2016 Last updated 12 September 2019

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 (‘the...

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