New Zealand Law Society - Advocacy in Action

Advocacy in Action

New approach to assist those seeking refugee status and protection

New approach to assist those seeking refugee status and protection

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa welcomes the suite of documents recently published by MBIE’s Refugee Status Unit (RSU) to assist individuals who are looking to claim refugee and protection status in New Zealand.

Concerns about tax policy development and the quality of tax legislation highlighted to Minister

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has raised concerns about the effectiveness of tax policy development and quality of tax legislation. Following engagement with Inland Revenue officials, the Law Society recently wrote to Minister Parker, as Minister of Revenue and Attorney-General, urging a return to the…
Research urgently needed for law changes to enable children’s safe participation in Family Court disputes

Research urgently needed for law changes to enable children’s safe participation in Family Court disputes

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has told Parliament’s Justice select committee it supports the principle of enabling children’s views to be heard in family proceedings, but the lack of an evidence-based model for how that will work in practice means the current legislative reform…

Civil access to justice – NZLS welcomes proposed reform of class actions and litigation funding

Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission is currently undertaking a first principles review of class actions and litigation funding. The review is part of wider, ongoing efforts to improve the affordability and efficiency of civil litigation and raises issues of significant interest to the legal profession and…

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Youth justice proposed ‘demerit points’ scheme not supported by evidence

Youth justice proposed ‘demerit points’ scheme not supported by evidence

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has told a parliamentary select committee that a bill proposing to introduce a ‘demerit points’ system for youth offenders is not supported by evidence and is unlikely to achieve its objective of delivering appropriate consequences for youth offending. 
More evidence needed to justify proposed Firearms Prohibition Orders regime

More evidence needed to justify proposed Firearms Prohibition Orders regime

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa appeared before Parliament’s Justice select committee today on the Arms (Firearms Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill (No 2), a member's bill in the name of Simeon Brown. The bill proposes to allow the Commissioner of Police to make Firearms Prohibition…
Victims of Insane Offenders better supported by alternative measures

Victims of Insane Offenders better supported by alternative measures

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa appeared before the Justice select committee yesterday on a member’s bill which aims to provide victims of legally insane offenders with the same rights as other victims of crime.

Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has made a submission to the Justice select committee on a member’s bill that aims to provide victims of legally insane offenders with the same rights as other victims of crime. Ensuring victims of crime are treated equally and have access…

NZLS feedback on MOJ proposal, ID cards for lawyers

Following engagement with the profession, the Law Society has provided feedback on the Ministry of Justice proposal to introduce identification cards for lawyers to be expedited through security when entering courthouses. We received more than 30 pieces of feedback in response to our LawPoints news item in December inviting feedback. The responses have…

We want to hear from Lawyers - Court Security and Lawyer ID Cards

The Ministry of Justice has indicated they are considering introducing identification cards for lawyers to be able to bypass queues at court security screening.
Law Society welcomes recommendations to establish new DNA laws

Law Society welcomes recommendations to establish new DNA laws

The Law Commission's report on use of DNA in criminal investigations recommends a new regulatory framework.
Improving access to civil justice by modernising New Zealand’s costs regime

Improving access to civil justice by modernising New Zealand’s costs regime

The Law Society has recently made a submission to the Rules Committee which is considering changes to the costs rules that apply to litigants-in-person in the District and High Courts.
High Court releases judgment on Level 4 lockdown

High Court releases judgment on Level 4 lockdown

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa welcomes the High Court judgment that affirms the central importance of the rule of law in the context of New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The High Court has found that the Director-General lawfully exercised powers under section…
Recent rules amendment encourages provision of legal services under a ‘limited retainer’

Recent rules amendment encourages provision of legal services under a ‘limited retainer’

A  recent amendment to the High Court Rules 2016 helps lawyers to provide legal services under a ‘limited retainer’ to lay litigants Limited retainers are an important means of bridging the ‘justice gap’ for litigants unable to afford traditional full-service legal representation. A limited retainer (also known as ‘unbundled’ legal services) allows a…