News Item

September 2010

Law Foundation provides funding assistance to a variety of projects

At its recent board meeting the Law Foundation provided funding assistance to a variety of interesting projects.

A study of the effectiveness of Youth Justice Family Group Conferences 21 years on has received a Law Foundation grant of $32,700.

The analysis is being conducted by the Henwood Trust, which works with community and government agencies to influence systemic change.

The trust will look at 20 Family Group Conference (FGC) cases that are “all instructive”. Some are inspirational in their effectiveness, while some reflect practice not working well.

The text of the book, to be published by Auckland University Press, will address:

  • what has the FGC process contributed to New Zealand’s youth justice system;
  • should the FGC process continue;
  • have the original goals been realised;
  • has it reached its potential; and
  • where to from here?

A project to review the current state of the rule of law in New Zealand has received a NZ Law Foundation grant of $5,000.

Led by Otago University Associate Professor Andrew Geddis, the project will produce a report to the NZLS Rule of Law Committee.

Originally suggested by the NZLS Human Rights Committee, the project is being undertaken at the request of and with the support of the NZLS Rule of Law Committee.

A particular focus of the study will be identifying any weaknesses or areas of concern relating to the rule of law in this country.

Four key questions will be examined:

  • what is the “rule of law”?;
  • how is the rule of law currently supported and protected in New Zealand?;
  • what challenges does the rule of law presently face in New Zealand (with case studies of particular areas of concern)?; and
  • how might the rule of law be strengthened in New Zealand?

It will also include material on the Canterbury earthquake and the resulting legislation.

Publication of a book entitled Law into Action: Implementing Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand has received a Law Foundation grant of $20,953.

By barrister Peter Hosking, executive director of the Human Rights Foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand, the book will explore the historical and potential implementation of the three rights.

It aims to do this in a way that is inclusive, functional and readily applicable to “doing” rights and making positive changes in our country.

The book is due to be published by the end of April next year.

Another book, No Ordinary Deal: Unmasking the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement has received a Law Foundation grant of $12,000.

Edited by Professor Jane Kelsey, the book is a critical evaluation of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership and will be published in November 2010.

One contribution in the book, published last week, is from Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen Global Trade Watch in Washington. This looks at The US Politics of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Negotiations.

NZLII has been awarded a grant of $23,396 to place Environment Court decisions on its website.