The Commission was asked to consider and report on whether existing legislation should be amended to cover the conduct of individuals that creates risk to, or public concern about, the preservation of public safety and security. The work is...
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 10 January 2008
Last updated 11 May 2015
Project status: Closed
Start date 12 October 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Law Commission’s report 'A New Support Scheme for Veterans: A Report on the Review of the War Pensions Act 1954' was published on 1 June 2010. The report makes recommendations for new legislation to replace the War Pensions Act 1954. One of...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
Part 8 of the Crimes Act 1961 deals with crimes against the person. The project reviewed the adequacy and coherence of the current offence provisions, considered whether there were any gaps in them and revised maximum penalty levels. The project...
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 July 2007
Last updated 11 May 2015
The Commission participated in work led by the Ministry of Justice and Police that related to legislative and other responses to organised crime.
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.
Project status: Closed
Start date 01 February 2005
Last updated 11 May 2015
This project explores the interaction between custom and human rights in the Pacific, including New Zealand, by articulating some of the issues arising from this interaction and how the two can inform each other.
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 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 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 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...