The Criminal Procedure (Simplification) project was a joint project between the Ministry of Justice and the Law Commission. It had two objectives: to reduce unnecessary court delays through legislative and operational change, and to create a...
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 Courts and Dispute Resolution filter Courts and Dispute Resolution
- (-) Remove Human Rights filter Human Rights
- (-) Remove Customary and Treaty Settlements Law filter Customary and Treaty Settlements Law
- Public (47) Apply Public filter
- Criminal (38) Apply Criminal filter
- Civil (32) Apply Civil filter
- Other (32) Apply Other filter
- Family (22) Apply Family filter
- Social (21) Apply Social filter
- Commercial (17) Apply Commercial filter
- Evidence (15) Apply Evidence filter
- Property/Trusts (14) Apply Property/Trusts filter
- International Law (7) Apply International Law filter
- Consumer (5) Apply Consumer filter
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 August 2006
Last updated 11 May 2015
This independent unit within the Commission drafted a comprehensive package of sentencing and parole guidelines for consideration by the Sentencing Council when it was established in 2008.
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 December 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to advise Te Puni Kokiri on proposed changes to section 30 of Te Ture Whenua Mäori Act 1993. Specifically, the Commission was asked to consider the effect of those proposed changes; and whether section 30 is...
Project status: Closed
Start date 15 October 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to assist the Ministry of Justice in the context of the work it is currently doing by way of review of the Law Practitioners Act 1982.
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 October 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to simplify the statutory provisions governing the laying of criminal charges and infringement offences and their progress through the court system to the point of determination, including appeals, so as to remove...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 1996
Last updated 11 May 2015
This is the Commission's second report directly on matters pertaining to New Zealand's international obligations. The purpose of the project is assist members of Parliament and public with both broad background information and focused direction...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 January 2002
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to consider: whether there is a need for clarifying or extending the power of the Family Court to require a person to whom Part I of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 applies to live in...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 December 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project to devise a solution to an untidiness in judicial review procedure. The mischief is that there are decisions (exercises of the prerogative for example) which may be subjected to judicial review, but to which the...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 December 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project originally commenced in 1994 at the suggestion of the Honourable Justice Durie, who at that time was Chief Judge of the Mäori Land Court. Justice Durie was of the view that some knowledge of Mäori custom would greatly assist judges...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 September 1999
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project sought to address issues in the Matrimonial Property Bill and the De Facto Relationships (Property) Bill introduced on 24 March 1998. The key issues were a) there were marked differences between the rights under the two bills of de...