Amendment to gangs bill raises rule of law and human rights concerns

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has written to the Minister of Justice about the introduction of Amendment Paper 51 on the Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill (the Bill), which proposes a new ‘gang insignia prohibition order’ (GIPO) regime and includes a prohibition on individuals subject to…

Law Society submits on the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has submitted on the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill, recommending that it does not proceed.

Law Society welcomes Select Committee report on Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa recently submitted on the Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill. Last week the Select Committee reported back on the Bill, accepting six of the Law Society’s recommendations.

Simon Graham - Immigration and Refugee Law Committee

An email inviting lawyers to join the Law Society’s law reform committees prompted Simon Graham, a Partner at Young Hunter Lawyers, to apply.  Fast forward three years and Simon is now the convenor of the Immigration and Refugee Law Committee, where his experience in refugee and immigration law is proving invaluable.  Advocating…

AJ Lodge – Employment Law Committee

Christchurch based Ashley-Jayne (AJ) Lodge is enthusiastic about her work as part of the Law Society’s Employment Law Committee.  A partner at Anderson Lloyd, AJ, who last year became the committee’s convenor, says she finds the work “really interesting and enjoyable.”  AJ says she particularly values hearing the different experiences and approaches…

Dhilum Nightingale - Immigration and Refugee Law Committee

Barrister Dhilum Nightingale’s role in the Immigration and Refugee Law Committee is just one of the ways she helps vulnerable and marginalised ethnic communities in Aotearoa.  Dhilum says lack of access to justice often has compounding impacts on vulnerable migrants.    “Our systems are complex and hard to navigate. There are usually language…

Vicki Morrison-Shaw - Environmental Law Committee

Matakana-based barrister and commissioner Vicki Morrison-Shaw originally joined the Environmental Law Committee as a way of keeping herself across developments in the law - since the role of the committee is to make submissions on proposed changes to environmental and resource management legislation.  But in the nine years she’s been involved…

Law Society makes recommendations to improve Fast-track Approvals Bill

The Law Society has made a submission to the Environment Select Committee on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, raising concerns about how the fast-track approval process appears to be inconsistent with constitutional principles and good regulatory practice.

Attacks on judges risk weakening the justice system

Attacks on judges risk weakening the justice system. Opinion Piece by Frazer Barton, President of the New Zealand Law Society - In defense of the judiciary.

Costs of Practice report released

Lawyers are not immune from the increased costs experienced by New Zealanders in recent years and have been subject to operational cost increases well above the rate of inflation. In the last three years alone, the operational costs of running a legal practice have increased by 15.3% each year.