| Te Aka Matua o te Ture | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 February 1986 |
| Headquarters | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Motto | Kia whanake ngā ture o Aotearoa mā te arotake motuhake | Better law for Aotearoa New Zealand through independent review |
| Employees | 20.45 FTE (2020)[1] |
| Annual budget | 4.047m NZ$ (2020)[2] |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Key document | |
| Website | lawcom.govt.nz |
New Zealand's Law Commission (Māori: Te Aka Matua o te Ture) was established in 1986 by the Law Commission Act 1985.[3][4] The commission is an independent Crown entity as defined in the Crown Entities Act 2004.[5]
The main objective of the Law Commission, as declared in its founding legislation, is to monitor and critically analyse the laws of New Zealand with a view to identifying—and proposing solutions to—their possible shortcomings.[6] The Law Commission reviews, reforms and develops New Zealand law. It then makes recommendations to Government to improve the law. It also advises its Responsible Minister and government agencies on how to make the law more accessible and easier to understand.
The commission has a commitment to consult the public on areas of law that it reviews. It promotes discussion and consultation by publishing Issues Papers. It invites submissions from the public before it makes recommendations to the Responsible Minister. It publishes these recommendations in a report to Parliament. The Minister tables the report and the government then decides whether and how it will amend the law.
The commission is part of the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies.
In 2001, the commission published a notable report on the influence tikanga Māori on Pākehā law conventions.[7]
- ^ Te Aka Matua o te Ture – Law Commission (2020). Briefing for the Incoming Minister November 2020 (PDF) (Report). Law Commission.
- ^ Te Aka Matua o te Ture – Law Commission (2020). Annual Report of Te Aka Matua o te Ture – Law Commission 2019/20 (PDF) (Report). Law Commission.
- ^ Establishment. Law Commission Act 1985—Section 4. "For the purpose of this Act, there is hereby established a commission to be called the Law Commission."
- ^ Short Title and commencement. Law Commission Act 1985—Section 1. "This Act shall come into force on 1 February 1986."
- ^ Crown Entities Act 2004 p91
- ^ "Functions". Law Commission Act 1985—Section 5. "The principal functions of the Commission are (...) to take and keep under review in a systematic way the law of New Zealand (...) to make recommendations for the reform and development of the law of New Zealand (...) to advise on the review of any aspect of the law of New Zealand conducted by any government department or organisation (...)."
- ^ Baragwanath, David; Lee, Margaret; Dugdale, DF; Brewer, Timothy; Heath, Paul (March 2001). Māori customs and values in New Zealand law – Study Paper 9 – NZLC SP9 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Law Commission / Te Aka Matua o te Ture. ISBN 1-877187-64-X. Retrieved 8 October 2023.