The purpose of the Evidence Law projects is to to make the law of evidence as clear, simple and accessible as practicable, and to facilitate the fair, just and speedy judicial resolution of disputes. In particular, this project examines 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
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- Courts and Dispute Resolution (40) Apply Courts and Dispute Resolution filter
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- Other (33) Apply Other filter
- Human Rights (28) Apply Human Rights filter
- Family (23) Apply Family filter
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- Property/Trusts (16) Apply Property/Trusts filter
- Customary and Treaty Settlements Law (10) Apply Customary and Treaty Settlements Law filter
- International Law (8) Apply International Law filter
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Project status: Closed
Start date 13 June 1997
Last updated 11 May 2015
Project status: Closed
Start date 17 November 1997
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project examines the response of the legal system to the experiences of women in New Zealand, recognising the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi in the examination of Maori women's experiences.
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 1998
Last updated 11 May 2015
In 1997, the Law Commission was approached by the Securities Commission and invited to consider the law relating to retirement villages, as part of a wider project relating to the marketing of undivided interests in land, which would have the...
Project status: Closed
Start date 05 May 1999
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to examine how the existing New Zealand law applies to those who commit criminal acts in circumstances where they are victims of domestic violence, in particular, the defences of self-defence, provocation, duress...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 1999
Last updated 11 May 2015
The purpose of this project is to review the legal framework for adoption in New Zealand as set out in the Adoption Act 1955 and the Adult Adoption Information Act 1985, and to recommend whether and how the framework should be modified to better...
Project status: Closed
Start date 17 April 2000
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project discusses the absence of adequate safeguards for the protection of donors of enduring powers of attorney under the provisions of Part IX of the Protection of Personal Property Rights Act 1988.
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 12 June 2003
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviews the rules relating to the parental status of adults with children, including the review of the legal meaning of parent, the purpose of parenthood laws, and the importance of the legal relationship between a parent and child...
Project status: Closed
Start date 13 May 2004
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project reviews existing rules providing access to Court records and developing principles to govern access to Court records, the retention and archiving of records. It considers the appropriateness of a single code providing rules for all...
Project status: Closed
Start date 19 October 2006
Last updated 11 May 2015
Advice provided by the Law Commission to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee on Sue Bradford's Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill.