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Law Commission recommends hate crime reform

Te Aka Matua o te Ture - Law Commission's final report, Hara Ngākau Kino: Review of hate crime law, has been presented to Parliament this week.

New Zealand's SPCA is advising lawyers that following its recent restructure, bequests should be directed differently. On 1 July 2026, the SPCA restructured from an incorporated society (The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated, Charities Commission number CC22705 (RNZSPCA Society)) to an incorporated charitable trust…

Administrative triaging for complaints

The Lawyers Complaints Service (LCS) is pleased to begin operationalising amendments to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 following the passage of the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Act 2026 last week.

Important changes to complaints legislation

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa welcomes legislative changes in the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026 that pave the way for more efficient administration of complaints by the Lawyers Complaints Service (LCS).

Newsroom See all

Law Commission recommends hate crime reform

Te Aka Matua o te Ture - Law Commission's final report, Hara Ngākau Kino: Review of hate crime law, has been presented to Parliament this week.

New Zealand's SPCA is advising lawyers that following its recent restructure, bequests should be directed differently. On 1 July 2026, the SPCA restructured from an incorporated society (The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated, Charities Commission number CC22705 (RNZSPCA Society)) to an incorporated charitable trust…

Law Society statements See all

A recent District Court decision convicting a non-lawyer for regulatory offences has reinforced the important consumer protection purposes of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, New Zealand Law Society chief executive Katie Rusbatch says.

James Gardner-Hopkins’ application for a practising certificate has been approved by a New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa Practice Approval Committee (the Committee) following the end of his suspension for misconduct. The application was carefully considered and decided by a majority of the Committee. Mr Gardner-Hopkins is…