Law reform background

19 March 2012
By Mary-Rose Russell and Marnie Prasad

Jury out on proposed criminal justice reforms

The Law Commission’s consultation paper Alternative models for prosecuting and trying criminal cases was released in mid-February 2012. Media coverage has been modest, despite the extraordinary reach of some of the proposed changes: to use a medical metaphor, the patient has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and radical surgery ... More about Jury out on proposed criminal justice reforms.

25 October 2011
By NZLS

New Zealand Law Society law reform committee members, 2011-13

The following are the new NZLS committees, appointed for a two year-term for 2011 to 2013. Law Reform Committee The Law Reform Committee oversees all of the NZLS law reform work. The committee reviews all bills before Parliament, as well as government agency and Law Commission law reform proposals. Members of the ... More about New Zealand Law Society law reform committee members, 2011-13.

25 October 2011
By Graham Tubb and Tracey Lloyd

Tax schemes and aggressive tax planning

As part of its ongoing compliance programme, Inland Revenue is continuing to identify inappropriate schemes, tax planning and structures that unlawfully minimise tax. It is also focusing on the small group of individuals and businesses that use and promote them. A new page on IRD’s website, Tax schemes and ... More about Tax schemes and aggressive tax planning.

30 August 2011
By NZLS

Major securities law consultation underway

The government released an exposure draft of a bill on securities law on 9 August 2011 and is currently consulting on the proposed legislation. The draft Financial Markets Conduct Bill stems from the comprehensive review of securities law, Commerce Minister Simon Power says. It is open for submissions, which close on 6 September 2011. ... More about Major securities law consultation underway.

15 August 2011
By Rachael Breckon

Issues around the new file sharing law

What do you get when you cross legal jargon with IT jargon? The Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act 2011. This law seeks to tackle illegal file sharing, including unauthorised movie and music downloads, with a "three strikes system", where offenders receive warnings for their first two infringements ... More about Issues around the new file sharing law.

29 March 2011
By NZLS

Separate parliamentary law reform process suggested

A separate parliamentary process for reforming what people call “lawyer’s law” is needed, according to Supreme Court judge Sir Peter Blanchard. Law reform was difficult, he said in a speech at Auckland University on 5 March 2011. A “good part of the difficulty” was the lack of adequate procedural mechanisms that ... More about Separate parliamentary law reform process suggested.

28 January 2011
By NZLS

Minister of Justice looks at his 2011 law reform agenda

The fast and furious pace of changes in the justice sector that was a feature of 2010 will not slow down this year, Justice Minister Simon Power says. “We have got a very busy 12 months ahead, so any indication we might be slowing up in 2011, I can tell you we’re ... More about Minister of Justice looks at his 2011 law reform agenda.

28 January 2011
By NZLS

Simon Power viewpoints on children’s evidence

Introducing a more inquisitorial approach to gathering and presenting evidence from child witnesses will be given major attention in 2011, Justice Minister Simon Power says. In fact, he sees this project as so important, Mr Power has told the Ministry of Justice to “prioritise” its work on this matter and to ... More about Simon Power viewpoints on children’s evidence.

20 January 2011
By NZLS

Select Committee endorses NZLS submissions on Legal Services Bill

The Justice and Electoral Committee’s report on the Legal Services Bill has accepted a number of the recommendations made by the New Zealand Law Society, including that a clear function of the legal aid system should be legal education and training. The select committee reported back to Parliament on ... More about Select Committee endorses NZLS submissions on Legal Services Bill.

15 December 2010
By Ministerial news release

Government position on Pike River Legal Costs

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has confirmed that the Government will meet the reasonable costs of legal services for those families directly affected by the Pike River mine accident, which arise out of the Royal Commission of Inquiry. "We recognise the importance of the families of the Pike River victims being ... More about Government position on Pike River Legal Costs.

1 November 2010
By NZLS

Te Kooti Rangatahi aims

The marae-based youth court, Te Kooti Rangatahi, is an attempt to use the traditional values of tikanga Maori to turn around the lives of young Maori offenders. Te Kooti Rangatahi is a judicially-led initiative which the Ministry of Justice supports, says the Ministry’s district courts general manager, Tony Fisher. “ ... More about Te Kooti Rangatahi aims.

1 November 2010
By Rebecca Sellers

Why the FMA matters

Why the Financial Markets Authority matters Capital markets provide an interface between companies that need capital, and investors who provide capital. Investors and companies each seek growth; and this growth affects the country in which the capital market is located, for example by increased employment opportunities and tax revenue from ... More about Why the FMA matters.

27 October 2010
By NZLS

A-G on Rules Committee

Rules Committee speech a ‘safe landing’ Eschewing any suggestion he was recanting, Attorney-General the Hon Christopher Finlayson made a “safe landing” when he reviewed the Rules Committee in a speech to the New Zealand Bar Association conference in Queenstown in September 2010. The Minister’s main point, that he endorsed the ... More about A-G on Rules Committee.

27 October 2010
By Ian Robertson

Animal welfare law issues

Animal welfare and the ‘emotional link’ A recent amendment to the Animal Welfare Act 1999 raises the maximum sentences and fines for animal ill treatment and neglect, and redefines the way some offences are described. The Act expands the threshold for the offence of wilful ill treatment - the most serious ... More about Animal welfare law issues.

27 October 2010
By Jason Tuck

Software patents

New Patents Act and software-related inventions A new Patents Act has prompted substantial debate. Jason Tuck, a technical adviser at James & Wells Intellectual Property, examines how software related inventions will fare under the new regime. The uncertainty surrounding Commerce Minister Simon Power’s announcement regarding a new Patents Act ... More about Software patents.

27 October 2010
By Trevor Slater

Financial services reg changes

Financial services regulation – what lawyers need to know I wonder how many members of the legal profession are truly aware of the substantial impact of the new laws that will apply to the finance industry from 1 December 2010. The most obvious effect will be the request for advice from those affected, ... More about Financial services reg changes.

27 October 2010
By NZLS

Name suppression and publication

Name Suppression and Name Publication Two recent developments have focused in different ways on the principles behind making the names of individuals public. On 5 October, Justice Minister Simon Power released information on government plans to impose new laws and rules to control the suppression of names in court proceedings. The ... More about Name suppression and publication.