Law Commission Act comes into force

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 9

Law Commission Act comes into force

PA Wellington The Law Commission Act has come into force giving New Zealand its first permanent, full-time law reform machinery. The act sets up a Law Commission, independent of the Government. The Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, said the commission’s aim was to promote the systematic review, reform and development of New Zealand law. It would make recommendations for law reform and development and could advise on the review of any aspect of the law conducted by a Government department. “An additional responsibility of the commission is to advise on ways in which the law can be made as understandable and accessible as practicable,” Mr Palmer said. “I see this as a very desirable aim.” In making its decisions,

the commission was to take into account Maori considerations and New Zealand’s multicultural character.

“For the first time, biculturalism and multiculturalism are written into the ground rules of a body charged with promoting legal change,” he said.

The commission replaces five part-time law reform committees covering contracts and commercial law, criminal law, evidence, property law and equity, and public and administrative law.

The commission’s president is Sir Owen Woodhouse, who is retiring from the presidency of the Court of Appeal. Its members are: Mr Bruce Cameron; Ms Sian Elias, an Auckland barrister; Mr Jack Hodder, a Wellington barrister; and Professor Ken Keith, professor of law at Victoria University of Wellington.