Submissions
One of the Law Society's most valued roles is to provide an informed, reasoned and representative voice for lawyers and for the public on Bills as they are introduced to Parliament and considered by select committees.
This justification for this role is set out under Section 65 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006:
(e) to assist and promote, for the purpose of upholding the rule of law and facilitating the administration of justice in New Zealand, the reform of the law.
Law Society committees often uncover aspects of the law needing reform. These are brought to the Government's attention and pursued until reform is achieved. The NZLS does not approach this role on the basis of personal views on the desirability of a particular measure, nor does it try to make political or value judgements. The object is to help provide better, more workable, more even-handed legislation.
It also provides comments on Law Commission and government agency discussion papers.
Submissions on Bills
2011
Non-bank Deposit Takers Bill, 19 October 2011 (71.8 KB)
Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill, 23 September 2011 (524.0 KB)
Regulatory Standards Bill, 6 September 2011 (1.5 MB)
Arms (Military Style Semi-Automatic Firearms and Import Controls) Amendment Bill, 15 June 2011 (23.8 KB)
Crimes Amendment Bill (No. 2), 2 June 2011 (44.7 KB)
Juries (Jury Service and Protection of Particulars of Jury List Information) Amendment Bill, 26 May 2011 (52.2 KB)
Statutes Amendment Bill (No. 2), 13 May 2011 (45.0 KB)
Taxation (Tax Administration & Remedial Matters) Bill, SOP 220 (treatment of non-resident investment in PIEs), 29 April 2011 (43.8 KB)
Taxation (Tax Administration & Remedial Matters) Bill, tax disputes procedures, 21 February 2011 (135.6 KB)
Biosecurity Law Reform Bill, 9 February 2011 (1.2 MB)
Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill, 27 January 2011 (94.2 KB)
Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill, 22 February 2011 (199.1 KB)
Environmental Protection Authority Bill, 28 January 2011 (26.8 KB)
Financial Markets (Regulations and Kiwisaver) Bill, supplementary submission, 28 February 2011 (58.5 KB)
Alcohol Reform Bill, 18 February 2011 (81.5 KB)
Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3), 9 February 2011 (1020.2 KB)
Taxation (Tax Administration & Remedial Matters) Bill, abolition of gift duty, 16 February 2011 (641.9 KB)
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill, points for select committee, 13 April 2011 (39.9 KB)
Legal Assistance (Sustainability) Amendment Bill, 30 September 2011 (799.7 KB)
Insolvency Practitioners Bill: options for regulating insolvency practitioners, 26 January 2011 (97.5 KB)
2010
Identity Information Confirmation Bill, 10 December 2010 (162.5 KB)
Financial Markets (Regulations and Kiwisaver) Bill, 10 November 2010 (85.2 KB)
Electricity Industry Bill, 23 March 2010 (71.0 KB)
Copyright Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill, 18 June 2010 (55.2 KB)
Employment Relations (Workers' Secret Ballot for Strikes) Amendment Bill, 28 May 2010 (40.8 KB)
Electoral Referendum Bill, 10 June 2010 (36.9 KB)
Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Bill, 10 June 2010 (1.1 MB)
Education Amendment Bill (No. 2), 5 August 2010 (105.8 KB)
Electoral (Disqualification of Convicted Prisoners) Amendment Bill, 8 June 2010 (51.0 KB)
Search and Surveillance Bill, further submission, 9 September 2010 (42.0 KB)
Trans Tasman Proceedings Bill - oral submission chart, 7 May 2010 (27.7 KB)
TVNZ Amendment Bill, 30 July 2010 (94.6 KB)
Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, Kiwisaver, and Remedial Matters) Bill, 10 February 2010 (55.3 KB)
Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill - oral submission chart, 17 May 2010 (13.7 KB)
Prisoners' and Victims' Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Bill, 14 May 2010 (290.7 KB)
Financial Service Providers (Pre-Implementation Adjustments) Bill - written submission, 15 April 2010 (43.2 KB)
Trans Tasman Proceedings Bill, 7 May 2010 (33.4 KB)
Social Assistance (Future Focus) Bill - written submission, 17 May 2010 (1.1 MB)
Child and Family Protection Bill - Family Violence, 30 March 2010 (47.5 KB)
Legal Services Bill - New Zealand Law Society submission, 8 October 2010 (176.3 KB)
Marine & Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill, 24 November 2010 (1.7 MB)
Canterbury Earthquake Response & Recovery Act 2010 - NZLS letter 30 September 2010 to the Attorney-General regarding rule of law issues, and Attorney-General's response, 27 October 2010 (795.8 KB)
Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act 2010 - NZLS letter 28.09.10 to the Attorney-General regarding rule of law issues, and Attorney-General's response, 14 October 2010 (734.6 KB)
Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill, 1 December 2010 (58.6 KB)
Food Bill, 31 August 2010 (429.4 KB)
Insolvency Practitioners Bill, 11 October 2010 (58.9 KB)
Legislation Bill, 27 September 2010 (45.1 KB)
Legal Services Bill - NZLS Family Law Section submission, 8 October 2010 (188.0 KB)
Statutes Amendment Bill, 11 February 2010 (375.5 KB)
Courts (Remote Participation) Bill, 16 April 2010 (41.6 KB)
Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill, 12 February 2010 (42.8 KB)
Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill (Revised), 8 March 2010 (15.9 KB)
Holidays Amendment Bill, 1 October 2010 (39.1 KB)
Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No. 2), 28 September 2010 (92.5 KB)
Financial Service Providers (Pre-Implementation Adjustments) Bill - oral submission, 15 April 2010 (24.3 KB)
2009
Patents Bill, 16 September 2009 (60.1 KB)
Patents Bill supplementary, 29 July 2009 (50.0 KB)
Anti-money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill, 24 August 2009 (67.7 KB)
Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill, 31 August 2009 (239.9 KB)
Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill, 23 April 2009 (69.9 KB)
Insolvency Amendment Bill, 21 April 2009 (43.5 KB)
Search and Surveillance Bill, 13 October 2009 (37.5 KB)
Sentencing (Offender Levy) Amendment Bill, 2 April 2009 (30.9 KB)
Resource Management (Simplifying and streamlining) Amendment Bill, 8 April 2009 (93.7 KB)
Land Transport (Enforcement Powers) Amendment Bill; Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill, 9 July 2009 (38.0 KB)
Limitation Bill, 16 September 2009 (28.2 KB)
Electoral Administration Amendment Bill, 10 December 2009 (44.5 KB)
Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill, 26 November 2009 (31.4 KB)
Children, Young Persons, and their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Bill, 20 April 2009 (60.7 KB)
Law Commission
A Register of Judges’ Pecuniary Interests? – Law Commission Issues Paper 21, 25 May 2011 (117.2 KB)
Compensating victims of crime, 23 January 2009 (111.9 KB)
Controlling and Regulating Drugs, 17 May 2010 (179.2 KB)
Invasion of Privacy - Penalties and Remedies, 8 June 2009 (647.7 KB)
Reforming the Incorporated Societies Act 1908, 26 October 2011 (179.9 KB)
Review of Trust Law in New Zealand: 2nd Issues Paper 20, 3 May 2011 (161.5 KB)
Review of Trust Law in New Zealand: 3rd Issues Paper 22, 22 July 2011 (258.5 KB)
Review of Trust Law in New Zealand: 4th Issues Paper, IP26, 9 November 2011 (1.8 MB)
Review of Trust Law in New Zealand: Introductory Issues Paper 19, 23 March 2011 (183.9 KB)
Review of official information legislation (Issues Paper 18: The Public's Right to Know): NZLS comment, 17 December 2010 (1.7 MB)
Review of the Privacy Act 1993, 29 April 2010 (967.4 KB)
Suppressing names and evidence, 2 March 2009 (76.4 KB)
Other submissions
Select Committee
Submissions on discussion papers
Access to justice (including legal aid)
Care of Children Act 2004 - Changes to Agency Steps (22.5 KB)
Care of Children Act 2004 proceedings - LSA proposed changes to steps, 29 March 2010 (62.1 KB)
Criminal Legal Aid Payment - High Cost Case Management consultation 18 August 2011 (215.5 KB)
Delivering Justice for All - A Vision for New Zealand Courts and Tribunals - Law Commission (111.2 KB)
Family Law Section: Comments on Global Granting and Pro Forma Invoicing (216.3 KB)
Fixed fees framework for criminal legal aid, 9 November 2011 (3.3 MB)
Legal Aid Provider Contract, 2 November 2011 (125.2 KB)
Legal Aid Quality Framework, 21 October 2010 (2.1 MB)
Legal Aid Review, main submission, 12 October 2009 (349.8 KB)
Legal Aid for Waitangi Tribunal proceedings, 19 July 2011 (925.1 KB)
Legal Services Act (Quality of Service) Regulations 2011, 28 March 2011 (1020.4 KB)
Policy on Criminal Case Assignment, Termination of Assignment and Reassignment for Categories 1 and 2 - 20910 (90.1 KB)
Preferred lawyer and criminal legal aid assignment (218.0 KB)
Proposed New Operating Model for District Courts in Auckland, 25 May 2011 (125.4 KB)
Commercial law (including Insolvency and Intellectual Property)
A Single Trans-Tasman Regulatory Framework for Patent Attorneys, 25 May 2011 (39.9 KB)
Authorised Financial Advisers - Draft Code of Professional Conduct for AFAs - Code Committee, 12.05.10 (97.8 KB)
Authorised Financial Advisers - Draft Code of Professional Conduct for AFAs - public consultation, 20.07.10 (175.6 KB)
Authorised Financial Advisers - Ethical Standards and Client Care - Code Committee (524.2 KB)
Class Exemptions for Buybacks - Takeovers Panel (79.3 KB)
Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Bill - Exposure Draft Amendment Bill consultation (315.7 KB)
Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act 2011 regulations, MED discussion document - 27 May 2011 (101.9 KB)
Draft Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Bill - RBNZ (77.9 KB)
Draft Mergers and Acquisitions Divestment Remedies Guidelines - Commerce Commission (67.4 KB)
Exemptions for Listed Share Purchase Plans & Rights Offers - Securities Commission (65.7 KB)
Financial Markets Conduct exposure draft Bill, 8 September 2011 (272.2 KB)
Mergers & Acquisitions: Supplementary Guidelines on Failing Firms - Commerce Commission (65.3 KB)
Partial Offers - Takeovers Panel (79.4 KB)
Parts 1-5 of the Takeovers Code, comment on Takeovers Panel consultation paper - 3.08.10 (0 Bytes)
Patents Bill, IPONZ Draft Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications involving Computer Programs; 18 March 2011 (97.2 KB)
Proposed Class Exemption for Portfolio Investment Entities (PIES) - Securities Commission (72.2 KB)
Proposed WHOIS policy amendments - registrant searches (.nz domain name register), 9.09.10 (80.2 KB)
Review of the Credit (Repossession) Act 1997, 2 September 2011 (1.5 MB)
Review of the Financial Reporting Framework - MED (70.0 KB)
Rule 16(b) Class Exemption - Takeovers Panel (84.2 KB)
Securities law discussion paper, 26.08.10 (152.4 KB)
Takeovers Panel Consultation Paper: Further Technical Issues with the Takeovers Code, 25 August 2011 (229.9 KB)
Takeovers Panel Consultation Paper: The Code and Hostile Takeovers, 14 February 2011 (116.3 KB)
Upstream Takeovers - Takeovers Panel (78.8 KB)
Contract and Consumer Law
Consumer Law Reform, comment on Ministry of Consumer Affairs Issues Paper: Electricity and the Consumer Guarantees Act, 9 November 2010 (82.5 KB)
Consumer Law Reform, comment on Ministry of Consumer Affairs Issues Paper: Layby Sales, 4 November 2010 (80.6 KB)
Consumer Law Reform, comment on Ministry of Consumer Affairs Issues Papers, Good Faith and Unconscionability, 1 November 2010 (91.6 KB)
Consumer Law Reform, comment on Ministry of Consumer Affairs discussion document - 6.08.10 (141.6 KB)
Consumer law reform, comment on Ministry of Consumer Affairs Issues Paper: Unfair Contract Terms, 14.10.10 (714.7 KB)
Review of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (219.3 KB)
Rule of law and human rights
Credit Reporting Privacy Code draft amendment No. 5, 23 June 2011 (77.4 KB)
Government observance of human rights and the rule of law - NZLS letter to the Attorney-General, 23 March 2011 (107.4 KB)
Government observance of human rights and the rule of law - the Attorney-General’s reply to NZLS, 5 April 2011 (134.0 KB)
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill – NZLS letter to the Attorney-General regarding Parliamentary process concerns, 7 March 2011 (84.6 KB)
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill – the Attorney-General’s reply to NZLS, 9 March 2011 (405.9 KB)
Proposed UN Resolution on Burma - NZLS letter to the Prime Minister and others, 19 September 2011 (155.6 KB)
Proposed UN Resolution on Burma - the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ reply to NZLS, 29 November 2011 (584.0 KB)
Questions arising from the Regulatory Responsibility Bill, June 2010 - 30.08.10 (100.7 KB)
Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy - Human Rights Commission discussion paper, 12 September 2011 (220.9 KB)
Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill – NZLS letter to the Attorney-General regarding a Bill of Rights issue, 28 February 2011 (75.9 KB)
Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill – the Attorney-General’s reply to NZLS, 9 March 2011 (480.4 KB)
UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities - draft report on implementation: NZLS comment 20 December 2010 (45.7 KB)