This project proposes a draft Property Law Act to replace the Property Law Act 1952. One of the most important objectives of the new Act is to set forth rules of property law accessibly and in a manner which, allowing for the subject matter, can...
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
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Project status: Closed
Start date 01 March 1992
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviews the Property Law Act 1952. At the same time the Department of Justice is reviewing aspects of the Land Transfer Act 1952 because new techology is proposed for the system of registration. This project is concerned with certain...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 February 1988
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviews the law relating to personal property securities in New Zealand. It recommends that a new Personal Property Securities Act be enacted in place of Part IV of the Companies Act 1955, and the whole of the Chattels Transfer Act...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 October 1986
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project examines the Limitation Act 1950 and makes recommendations on changes needed to it. The principal recommendation is that the 1950 Act is repealed and replaced with a new Limitation Defences Act of wide application and with three...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 June 2010
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Incorporated Societies Act 1908 is uncomfortably old and has been little amended since its enactment. Yet the range of community organisations that use this legal form is extensive in New Zealand. The focus of this review was on modernising...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 August 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
In August 2000, we were asked, as part of the insolvency law review, to provide further advisory reports to the Ministry of Economic Development. The topics which we were asked to consider were:
(a) the role of the State in insolvency law...
Project status: Closed
Start date 10 March 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
This is the final report to be issued by the Law Commission on the International Trade Project which was started in October 1997. The Commission has, as part of that project, published the following reports and study papers: Electronic Commerce...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 1999
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to provide advice on whether existing classes of preferred creditors should continue to enjoy advantages over unsecured creditors when bankruptcy or liquidation intervened. The request for advice was made in the...
Project status: Closed
Start date 12 April 1999
Last updated 11 May 2015
Over the past two years the Law Commission has been examining various aspects of the law affected by electronic commerce. Our work seeks to ascertain whether any changes to the law are needed to fit the electronic environment in which much...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 June 1998
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project is a response to the Lange v Atkinson decision. Mr Lange, a former prime minister of New Zealand, claims damages for defamation from the author of an article published in a monthly magazine with a New Zealand-wide circulation and...