National emergencies

Status: Completed

Terms of reference

The Law Commission has been asked to consider and report on the following questions:

  1. What executive powers are needed and justified to deal effectively with a national emergency in New Zealand, in a manner consistent with our basic constitutional system and traditions;
  2. What rights and freedoms ought not to be derogated from in any national emergency;
  3. What procedures are most appropriate for bringing emergency powers into effect;
  4. What safeguards are needed to confine the exercise of emergency powers to a national emergency;
  5. What limits and controls should be placed on the exercise of emergency powers, and what remedies should there be for the abuse of these posers;
  6. What changes are needed in the existing law to achieve these objects. 

Status: Completed