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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 9]
Report on Search and Surveillance Powers
Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 12:42 am | Law Commission
“The Law on Search and surveillance in New Zealand is a mess”, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, the President of the Law Commission said today. He was releasing the Law Commission’s report on this subject that was tabled in Parliament today. More >>
Law Commission given sharper teeth by Government
Wednesday, 25 July 2007, 4:30 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission is delighted with the announcement by the Prime Minister of significant steps to improve Government processes when considering Law Commission reports and sees this as a most welcome 21st birthday present. Law Commission President, Sir ... More >>
Law Commission Recommends Sedition Law Abolition
Thursday, 5 April 2007, 4:16 pm | Law Commission
“These offences are too wide. They are unclear. They can be misused to suppress dissent,” says President, Sir Geoffrey Palmer. “Sedition has been used to muzzle vehement and unpopular political speech. It is high time the offences were removed ... More >>
Law Commission suggests harmonisation
Monday, 16 October 2006, 3:08 pm | Law Commission
Although custom and human rights are commonly seen as conflicting in the Pacific region, the two can often be harmonised, the Law Commission suggests in a study paper released today. More >>
Palmer: The Law Commission’s New Programme
Friday, 13 October 2006, 11:36 am | Law Commission
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you. I spoke to the Board of the Society on 17 February 2006 outlining the way I saw the future for the Law Commission. In that speech I said the first priority was to secure favourable decisions from the ... More >>
New Law Commission programme
Friday, 13 October 2006, 11:32 am | Law Commission
The President of the Law Commission, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, welcomed the new Law Commission programme today. At a speech to the Council of the New Zealand Law Society, Sir Geoffrey outlined new projects that had been agreed to by the Minister of Justice, the Honourable ... More >>
Palmer welcomes legislation implementing reports
Friday, 8 September 2006, 11:54 am | Law Commission
Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Law Commission, welcomes the introduction of legislation to Parliament this week that implements previous Law Commission reports. “Over the years the Law Commission has done a great deal of rigorous work to update ... More >>
Sentencing Guidelines And Parole Reform
Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 5:00 pm | Law Commission
The Report of the Law Commission Remarks by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, President of the Commission, made at the release of the report More >>
Law Commission Recommends Truth in Sentencing
Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 2:24 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission is recommending major changes to New Zealand’s sentencing and parole arrangements, aimed at achieving greater consistency and transparency and giving the public a greater say on sentence types and lengths. More >>
Report Recommends More Access to Court Records
Wednesday, 2 August 2006, 2:20 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission has recommended a more open and clear regime for access to court records. “In places the current access rules resemble a dog’s breakfast,” says President, Sir Geoffrey Palmer. “They are often unclear, vary from one jurisdiction ... More >>
Law Com proposes new legal entity for Maori tribes
Thursday, 8 June 2006, 5:54 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission is recommending that the Government create a new legal entity specifically shaped to meet the organisational needs of Maori tribes and other groups that manage communally held assets. More >>
Palmer: The Law Reform Enterprise in NZ
Wednesday, 22 February 2006, 4:45 pm | Law Commission
The Law Reform Enterprise in New Zealand Prepared for Address to the Board of the New Zealand Law Society 17 February 2006 Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer President, Law Commission See... The Law Reform Enterprise in New Zealand (PDF) More >>
Existing/Proposed Court Structure Diagrams
Tuesday, 16 March 2004, 2:37 pm | Law Commission
Diagrams showing the existing court structure and proposed court structure as described in the Law Commission Report Delivering Justice For All. More >>
Delivering Justice for All - Recommendations
Tuesday, 16 March 2004, 2:28 pm | Law Commission
R1 A state agency should have lead responsibility for developing an integrated and coordinated legal information strategy that assists the entire community when dealing with the court system. More >>
Delivering Justice for All - Summary Of Key Themes
Tuesday, 16 March 2004, 2:26 pm | Law Commission
Submissions and consultation revealed serious concerns about the lack of user-friendly information and advice available about the court system and legal services. This means that civil litigants and criminal defendants are more likely to make poor choices ... More >>
Commission Proposes More Accessible Court System
Tuesday, 16 March 2004, 2:25 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission is recommending significant changes to the court system, which it says has become an impenetrable maze to many New Zealanders. More >>
Is Justice Available To All? - Justice Robertson
Tuesday, 2 December 2003, 2:15 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission is in the final stages of a multi-year project, reviewing the structure and operation of New Zealand’s Courts. More >>
Making The Courts Work Better For People
Monday, 16 December 2002, 11:02 am | Law Commission
Wide-ranging changes to the ways in which our court system operates are floated in an options paper released today by the Law Commission. More >>
Law Commission Report On GE Liability Issues
Tuesday, 16 July 2002, 3:53 pm | Law Commission
Liability for Loss Resulting From the Development, Supply or Use of Genetically Modified Organisms - May 2002 Wellington, New Zealand More >>
GM Organisms and Liability for Loss
Tuesday, 9 July 2002, 2:25 pm | Law Commission
The Law Commission will consider and report on issues surrounding liability for loss resulting from development, supply, or use of genetically modified organisms. The fundamental issue to be investigated is: More >>
