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Law Commission
Reviewing, reforming and developing New Zealand's laws
The Law Commission reviews, reforms and develops New Zealand law. We then make recommendations to Government to improve the law.
We also advise our Responsible Minister and government agencies on how to make the law more accessible and easier to understand.
The Commission has a commitment to consult the public on areas of law that we review. We promote discussion and consultation by publishing Issues Papers. We invite submissions from the public before we make recommendations to the Minister.
We publish these recommendations in a report to Parliament. The government then decides whether and how it will amend the law.
Law Commission - Latest News [Page 2]
Law Commission announces terms of reference for Review
Wednesday, 18 December 2019, 4:29 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission is pleased to announce the terms of reference for two of its projects. More >>
The Law Commission is reviewing the law of succession
Wednesday, 18 December 2019, 4:27 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission is reviewing the law of succession. In this review, the Law Commission will consider who should be entitled to inherit a person’s property when they die. More >>
Law Commission recommends new law for dividing property
Tuesday, 23 July 2019, 2:29 pm | Law Commission
The current law for dividing property on separation is out of date and in need of reform, the Law Commission concludes in its report, Review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 – Te Arotake i te Property (Relationships) Act 1976 , tabled in Parliament ... More >>
Law Commission publishes Final Report on Evidence Act 2006
Wednesday, 13 March 2019, 2:16 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission today publishes its report The Second Review of the Evidence Act 2006 – Te Arotake Tuarua i te Evidence Act 2006 . The report considers a range of issues with the Evidence Act, the legislation governing evidence in criminal and ... More >>
Law Commission seeks input on DNA review
Monday, 28 January 2019, 1:47 pm | Law Commission
What do you think about Police analyzing DNA left at a crime scene to predict the ethnicity or appearance of an offender? More >>
Public to have say on use of DNA in criminal Investigations
Monday, 17 December 2018, 7:37 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission has released an Issues Paper and is inviting public input on the use of DNA in criminal investigations. More >>
Improving law for dividing property when relationships end
Thursday, 1 November 2018, 1:56 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission has published its proposals to reform the law about dividing property when relationships end. It is seeking feedback on the proposals before making its final recommendations to the Government in 2019. More >>
Te Aka Kōrero No. 7 - News from the Law Commission
Thursday, 10 May 2018, 3:38 pm | Law Commission
Commissioning changes The Justice Minister asked the Law Commission to advise him on the Government’s plan to treat abortion as a health issue. So RNZ’s show, The House , took an in-depth look at the Commission, what it does, why and how. Listen ... More >>
Should it be easier to video-record evidence
Thursday, 5 April 2018, 4:44 pm | Law Commission
For complainants in sexual and family violence cases, going to court to give evidence can be traumatic. More >>
Law Commission seeks public input on abortion law
Wednesday, 4 April 2018, 10:59 am | Law Commission
The Law Commission is inviting public input on how New Zealand’s abortion laws could be made consistent with treating abortion as a health issue. More >>
Public to have say on Evidence Act
Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 9:59 am | Law Commission
The Evidence Act is working well but there are several issues that may need fixing, says Law Commission President Sir Douglas White. More >>
Borrin grant will help make better law for separated couples
Wednesday, 21 February 2018, 9:11 am | Law Commission
The Law Commission is delighted that the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation has made a grant to research New Zealanders’ attitudes about and experiences of dividing relationship property. More >>
Te Aka Korerō No 6 - News from the Law Commission
Thursday, 1 February 2018, 4:46 pm | Law Commission
Should the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 affect creditors’ rights? The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 gives each partner a right to share equally in the couple’s relationship property. But what should happen if one partner’s creditors also claims ... More >>
Review recommends changes to search and surveillance laws
Tuesday, 30 January 2018, 1:29 pm | Law Commission
Police should be able to conduct a wider range of surveillance but should exercise their powers more transparently, according to a new report. More >>
2018 New Year Resolutions for Your Relationships
Friday, 15 December 2017, 12:19 pm | Law Commission
No one resolves that the end of your relationship will be tidy and simple. That is probably because you do not resolve at New Year that your relationships will end. However, sometimes it is best to plan for the worst and hope for the best. More >>
Public consultation on the Property (Relationships) Act 1976
Friday, 1 December 2017, 3:03 pm | Law Commission
We are almost half way through our public consultation period on the Property (Relationships) Act. We have met many interesting and interested people who have helpfully shared their views. This consultation is an invaluable source of information for us and ... More >>
Complex DNA law needs rewrite
Monday, 20 November 2017, 1:36 pm | Law Commission
The law that covers police obtaining and using DNA in criminal investigations is too complicated says Law Commissioner Donna Buckingham. More >>
Improving the law for dividing property
Monday, 9 October 2017, 2:42 pm | Law Commission
When should the law treat two people as a couple? What property should they share if they break up and what property should belong to only one of them? More >>
Contempt report protects right to a fair trial
Wednesday, 21 June 2017, 2:12 pm | Law Commission
Freedom of expression does not include the right to undermine fair trials says Law Commission President Douglas White. More >>
Review of Search and Surveillance Act Seeks Public Feedback
Tuesday, 8 November 2016, 11:56 am | Law Commission
Today, the Law Commission and the Ministry of Justice released an Issues Paper describing possible ways to improve the operation of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012. More >>
