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
- (-) Remove Reviewing submissions filter Reviewing submissions
- (-) Remove Open filter Open
- (-) Remove Closed filter Closed
Areas of law
- (-) Remove Property/Trusts filter Property/Trusts
- Public (46) Apply Public filter
- Courts and Dispute Resolution (39) Apply Courts and Dispute Resolution filter
- Criminal (37) Apply Criminal filter
- Civil (32) Apply Civil filter
- Other (30) Apply Other filter
- Human Rights (23) Apply Human Rights filter
- Family (21) Apply Family filter
- Social (21) Apply Social filter
- Commercial (17) Apply Commercial filter
- Evidence (14) Apply Evidence filter
- Customary and Treaty Settlements Law (10) Apply Customary and Treaty Settlements Law filter
- International Law (6) Apply International Law filter
- Consumer (5) Apply Consumer filter
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 1989
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project consists of seminars that focus on and provoke discussion of the underlying objectives and overall coherence of the reforms of various laws affecting intellectual property.
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 01 July 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Law Commission, in conjunction with Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), reviewed the Land Transfer Act 1952 and amendment Acts. An Issues Paper (IP10) was published in October 2008. The aim of the review was to modernise and streamline the...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 2001
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project considers and reports on: whether taking subsequent law changes into account there remains a need for the continued existence of the Joint Family Homes Act 1964; and if there is a need for its continued existence, whether the Act...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 1996
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviews the law of succession. This is the law which governs how a person's property is to be dealt with when they die.
Project status: Closed
Start date 13 September 2001
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project discusses nine current trust law problems and makes recommendations thereon. One proposal is to authorise trustees to delegate to agents their powers to administer the trust, including powers of investment and management, but...
Project status: Closed
Start date 27 June 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to enquire into and report on the following issues:
- Is there a need for changes, whether administrative or legislative, to address problems which have arisen in the period leading up to and in the course...