News Items
November 2024
2024 Cleary Prize Winner Announced
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The New Zealand Law Foundation congratulates Rhianna Morar on winning this year's NZ Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize.  |
June 2024
2024 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship Recipients
The New Zealand Law Foundation along with Universities New Zealand Te P?kai Tara are delighted to announce that Madeleine (Maddy) Nash and Hannah Yang have been awarded the 2024 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship.
 ... read more. |
November 2023
2023 Cleary Prize Winners Announced
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The New Zealand Law Foundation congratulates Oliver Fredrickson on winning this year's NZ Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize.
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June 2023
2023 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship Recipient
The New Zealand Law Foundation congratulates the Ethel Benjamin Scholarship recipient for 2023, Jessica Fenton. Jessica graduated in 2019 with a BA and LLB from the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau.
 ... read more. |
December 2022
2022 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship - video
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We have just uploaded the video recording of our 25th Annual NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address by Judge Coral Shaw to our You Tube channel. Click here to view. ... read more. |
November 2022
2022 Cleary Prize winners announced
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The New Zealand Law Foundation congratulates joint winners Phoebe Clifford and Jack Trevella who have won this year's NZ Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize. This is a prestigious award given to a young barrister or solicitor who shows outstanding future promise in the legal profession. ... read more. |
August 2022
Removing Disabling Experiences: a vision for the future of our people
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In 2017 Warren Forster won the Law Foundation's prestigious International Research Fellowship with a bold aim to work out how to realise Sir Owen Woodhouse's original vision of an ACC scheme that does not discriminate based on the cause of disability, a vision consistent with the UN Convention ... read more. |
June 2022
EDS releases major report calling for oceans reform
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The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has published a report on the future of Aotearoa New Zealand's oceans management system, which was funded in part by the New Zealand Law Foundation. The Breaking Wave was launched by Minister of Conservation Hon Kiritapu Allan at a function in Wellington today. ... read more. |
2022 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winners announced
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Finding ways to use litigation to remedy bias in public decision-making and provide greater recognition of tikanga Maori are the aims of the two recipients of this year's New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarships. read more. |
May 2022
Making Gang Laws in a Panic
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New research released today from Jarrod Gilbert, University of Canterbury, examines New Zealand's most significant legislative thrust targeting gangs, which occurred in the mid 1990s. It examines the efficacy of the gang laws by measuring the political intent of the measures against their actual use. The results are ... read more. |
April 2022
Important Charities Law Reform report released
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The 2019 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship Te Karahipi Rangahau a Taiao awarded to Wellington Barrister, Sue Barker, was dedicated to the question "What does a world-leading framework of charities law look like?" with the final report, entitled "Focus on purpose", being released today. This important research released this week is essential reading for those who wish to see urgent systematic change to help our young people. The research team was lead by Professor Ian Lambie and the report is entitled How we fail children who offend and what to do about ... read more. |
Leading publication on changes to rape trial processes released
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Professor Elisabeth McDonald recently released the second of three books in her work spanning 10 years on examining trial processes in rape cases: In the absence of a jury: examining judge-alone rape trials. Calls for changes to the trial process in rape cases, including removing ... read more. |
March 2022
Covid and the Law - new publication
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This recent publication funded by the Law Foundation sets out the law through which Aotearoa New Zealand responded to Covid-19 in 2020 through to mid-2021. The book outlines the legal frameworks that were in place before the pandemic arrived, the way the legal powers set ... read more. |
December 2021
2021 Cleary Prize winner announced
The New Zealand Law Foundation congratulates Eve Bain has won this year's NZ Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize - a prestigious award given to a young barrister or solicitor who shows outstanding future promise in the legal profession.
Eve graduated from Victoria ... read more. |
September 2021
Rethinking Disability Legislation
In a ground-breaking new report, the research team of Warren Forster, Tom Barraclough and Curtis Barnes set out to design legislation that would be effective in identifying and removing barriers that cause disabling experiences for so many of our people. They recognise that this is a once in a generation ... read more. |
August 2021
Ka Mapuna - Towards a Rangatiratanga Framework for Governance of Waterways
A recently-released report authored by Betsan Martin, Response Trust & the New Zealand Maori Council, with Linda te Aho, explored the complex issues of governance for waterways in New Zealand. This is a time of a wider shift towards appreciating water as the source of life and health for all. ... read more. |
Treaty Settlements Book released
As Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations from 2008 to 2017, Christopher Finlayson completed an unprecedented number of settlements with iwi. In 2012 alone, Parliament passed more Treaty legislation than it had over the previous twenty years. Christopher Finlayson gained unique insight into the elements of successful negotiations and was ... read more. |
June 2021
Appropriate foundation key to building successful online court system
Online courts may hold the key to breaking barriers to justice, but the basics need to be right first, a University of Otago academic argues. |
May 2021
Now is the time to rethink work in Aotearoa
| The impact artificial intelligence will have on work and jobs in Aoteaora New Zealand may be hard to predict, but a New Zealand Law Foundation-funded University of Otago report provides a promising way to adapt - shorten the work week. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Jobs and Work in New ... read more. |
2021 NZLF Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner announced
We are pleased to announce the award of the 2021 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship for outstanding women lawyers. This year's winner is Georgia Bellett. This annual scholarship honours Ethel Benjamin, New Zealand's first woman barrister and solicitor, who was admitted to the bar in 1897. The ... read more. |
March 2021
"Legislation should not be code, but law as code is the future": New research released
| An intriguing new report, co-authored by Tom Barraclough, Hamish Fraser and Curtis Barnes and published by Brainbox Institute, warns that enacting legislation in code is a risk to the constitutional arrangements of New Zealand. Despite that, they argue that two pieces of legislation currently under review ... read more. |
February 2021
Farmed Animal Welfare Report highlights inconsistencies between the codes and the Act
| The New Zealand Animal Law Association is concerned that the welfare needs of farmed animals in New Zealand are not being met. It recently released a report on this topic, with a particular focus on pigs, dairy cattle, layer hens, meat chickens and fish. The report, funded by the New Zealand ... read more. |
Consumer NZ calls out unfair terms in retirement village contracts
| In recent findings from a study funded by the Law Foundation, Consumer NZ is calling for an overhaul of retirement village regulations to protect residents from unfair terms. Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy said its review of retirement village contracts found terms that unfairly favour the village and risk leaving ... read more. |
December 2020
2020 Cleary Memorial Prize Winner Announced
| The Law Foundation congratulates Oliva Klinkum on being awarded the Cleary Memorial Prize for 2020. Olivia currently works for Meredith Connell as a solicitor and criminal prosecutor for the Crown. Prior to this, she worked as a Judges' Clerk in the Court of Appeal. Olivia graduated from University of Otago in 2018 ... read more. |
Justice system must bring legal data into 21st century
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A new legal research report released today calls for written decisions of courts and tribunals in New Zealand to be prepared and published as digital data. The research behind this report was funded by the New Zealand Law Foundation, as part of its significant contribution ... read more. |
Human rights concerns as facial recognition technology use expands
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A Foundation-funded research project led by Associate Professor Nessa Lynch, VUW Law Faculty, has shown the potential impact that use of facial recognition technology (FRT) has on human rights. The study was funded through our $2m Information Law & Policy Project and highlights the current ... read more. |
October 2020
More free Law and Tech webinars coming up in Oct and Nov courtesy of TeLENZ project
The Law Foundation funded Technology in Law and Education NZ Project (TeLENZ) is presenting a series of free webinars on Law and Technology in legal education, practice policy and research.
Upcoming webinars:
Thurs 15 Oct, 1pm-2pm: Open Law NZ - discussion and demonstration of New Zealand's new, free ... read more. |
Free 1-hour online panel workshop 12.30pm Tues 13th Oct 2020: "How Advancements in Technology have Shaped the Practice of Law"
| This LexisNexis Innovation Panel collaborative forum will centre on initiatives to improve the way New Zealand legal professionals work. Associate Professor Wayne Rumbles, project leader for the Law Foundation-funded TeLENZ project will be a panellist along with other legal and technology experts. They will deliver a robust discussion about what the ... read more. |
September 2020
Free Law and Technology webinars coming up in Sept and Oct courtesy of TeLENZ project
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The Law Foundation funded Technology in Law and Education NZ Project (TeLENZ) is presenting a series of free webinars on Law and Technology in legal education, practice policy and research. Upcoming webinars: Tues 29 Sept, 11am-12.00pm: E-Voting - Security Policy & ... read more. |
Ten new legal research projects receive funding from Law Foundation's final funding round
Earlier this month the Law Foundation approved funding for ten new legal research projects. This was our final round for applications before moving into recess. We are now gradually winding down as our current grantees complete their projects.
The final ten Law Foundation-funded projects cover some important issues:
The Status of ... read more. |
August 2020
JF Northey Prize won by Law Foundation funded work of Professor Richard Boast QC - VUW
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The Law Foundation congratulates Professor Richard Boast QC, VUW Law Faculty, for being awarded this year's JF Northey Prize for the best book published in 2019 by a New Zealand author: The Native Land Court Volume 3 1910-1953: Collectivism, Land Development and the ... read more. |
Otago Research finds Family Justice System needs to incorporate Children's Voices
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The results of a six-year research project by the University of Otago's Children's Issues Centre evaluating the 2014 Family Law Reforms show many parents and caregivers want their children's voices to be heard when making post-separation parenting arrangements or navigating family justice processes, such as Family Dispute Resolution ... read more. |
July 2020
Research Report Evaluates use of Expert Evidence about Memory and its relevance to Sexual Violence Cases in NZ
| The report by psychologists Suzanne Blackwell and Fred Seymour, and lawyer Sarah Mandeno examines evidence given by memory expert witnesses in sexual violence trials and appellate courts in New Zealand. In Part One their report provides an overview of legislation and case law relating to the admissibility of expert evidence. ... read more. |
Radio NZ interview with barrister and researcher Warren Forster "Contact tracing 'game-changer' for ACC cover"
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Warren Forster, NZ Law Foundation 2017 International
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June 2020
Te Rito o te Harakeke - An enduring community structure of support for rangatahi transitioning from the Rangatahi Court
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The New Zealand Law Foundation has long been a champion for youth justice initiatives. Now, the trustees welcome a new report from the Henwood Trust suggesting a community mechanism to further support rangatahi in a whanau setting capturing more resources for those appearing before the ... read more. |
2020 NZLF Ethel Benjamin Scholarship Winner announced
| We are pleased to announce the award of the 2020 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship for outstanding women lawyers. This year's winner is Ana Lenard. The award honours Ethel Benjamin, New Zealand's first woman barrister and solicitor, who was admitted to the bar in 1897. For over 20 years, ... read more. |
Research finds Specialist Sexual Violence Pilot Courts need to make significant changes to reduce distress of young witnesses
Research recently released by the University of Auckland's School of Psychology investigated the Sexual Violence Pilot Courts in relation to child witnesses. The pilot courts, set up in December 2016, aimed to reduce the negative impact of court involvement on complainants and promote best evidence. The research entitled "Young Witnesses in ... read more. |
May 2020
Crossover Youth Scoping Study finds more in-depth research needed to identify better prevention and intervention strategies
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The Crossover Youth Scoping Study recently released by the Henwood Trust recommends undertaking a larger research project using statistics from the government's Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), a database containing statistics from across all New Zealand government agencies. This would add previously unknown information about crossover youth and contribute to ... read more. |
February 2020
"Rape Myths as Barriers to Fair Trial Process" - important new publication on Rape Trial research
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Professor Elisabeth McDonald's book "Rape Myths as Barriers to Fair Trial Process: Comparing adult rape trials with those of the Aotearoa Sexual Violence Court Pilot" was launched at her public talk "A cross-examination of rape myths", on 26th Feb at University of Canterbury. The ... read more. |
New book - Assessment of Mental Capacity - A New Zealand Guide for Doctors and Lawyers
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Assessment of Mental Capacity is a much needed practical guide for medical and legal practitioners responsible for assessing mental capacity - for when an individual's ability to make their own decisions is impaired due to dementia, a learning or intellectual disability, mental illness or brain injury. The kinds ... read more. |
December 2019
Report release: PUREA NEI: Changing the Culture of the Legal Profession
| Today marks the release of the research report "Purea Nei: Changing the Culture of the Legal Profession", resulting from a project to engage people of all genders in the legal profession in New Zealand about issues such as workplace expectations and culture, diversity and inclusion, sexual harassment, bullying, gender equality, ... read more. |
NZLF Distinguished Visiting Fellow for 2020 announced
| The Law Foundation is delighted to announce that Professor Liz Fisher of the University of Oxford is our 2020 Distinguished Visiting Fellow. Liz is Professor of Environmental Law in the Faculty of Law and Corpus Christi College University of Oxford. Her work has been at the cutting edge of exploring the ... read more. |
New publication - Children's Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand - Reflections on the 30th Anniversary of The Convention on the Rights of the Child
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This just released publication is a collection of reflections that arose from a 2-day VUW symposium, held in August this year, entitled "Children's Rights - National and International Contexts". It was held in recognition that it's been 30 years since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child was signed, ... read more. |
New Research says NZ Universities are ill-equipped to protect Maori IP
| Commercialisation of intellectual property rights (IP) that arise out of university-driven research are becoming increasingly important commercial assets for universities. This may involve the use of Maori knowledge in many different ways. The Waitangi Tribunal has stipulated that kaitiaki (guardians or custodians) have the right to be acknowledged as the source ... read more. |
EDS report proposes transformational Resource Management Reform
| EDS's final report on its Resource Management Law Reform Project was launched by Minister for the Environment, Hon David Parker, on 11 December. The Law Foundation funded project took a first-principles look at how New Zealand's resource management system could be improved. The earlier phase of the project outlined three potential ... read more. |
New report on regulation of Encryption highlights need to balance government powers with people's rights
| This newly released Law Foundation-funded report identifies principles and values for informing future developments of encryption-related laws in New Zealand. It highlights the need to strike a balance between the competing concerns of human rights and freedoms with those of law enforcement and public order values. The report, entitled "A Matter ... read more. |
New research suggests MPs are failing to lead on Human Rights
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A new research report says human rights oversight by select committees examining potential legislation is weak and ad hoc, and that human rights obligations and protections lack parliamentary leadership. It claims democracy in New Zealand is suffering from a Parliament which under-performs in its scrutiny ... read more. |
November 2019
2019 Cleary Memorial Prize Winner Announced
| The Law Foundation congratulates Jack Alexander who has been awarded the Cleary Memorial Prize for 2019. Jack is currently an Associate at Gilbert/Walker. Prior to this, he was a Judges' Clerk in the Court of Appeal. He ranked third in his graduating class and was awarded a Senior Scholarship in ... read more. |
2019 International Research Fellowship awarded to Wellington barrister
| We are delighted to announce that Wellington Barrister and Charities Law expert, Susan Barker, is the 2019 recipient of the Law Foundation's International Research Fellowship Te Karahipi Rangahau a Taiao. The Fellowship is New Zealand's premier legal research award, providing recipients up to $125,000 for research that will make a ... read more. |
Ground breaking report into Superdiverse parties in the courts says change is needed
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The Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business has today released its report "Culturally, Ethnically and Linguistically Diverse Parties in the Courts: A Chinese Case Study". The report's author, Mai Chen, Chair of the Superdiversity Institute says Superdiversity is deepening in New Zealand. By 2038, ... read more. |
October 2019
New technology aids access to justice - Oct LawTalk column by Law Foundation Director Lynda Hagen
| In recent years, the Foundation has filled a rapidly-growing law and policy gap by backing research into the legal and public policy impacts of emerging new technologies through its Information Law and Policy Project (ILAPP) fund. It's therefore fitting that the last two projects to be supported under ILAPP combine important ... read more. |
September 2019
Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd - NZ Law Foundation 2019 Distinguished Visiting Fellow
| Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd is visiting New Zealand from 9 Sept to 12 Oct 2019 as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2019 Distinguished visiting Fellow and will give public lectures on the effect of the digital revolution on law. Lord Thomas was a former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales ... read more. |
"Default" union enrolment widely supported - Sept LawTalk column by Law Foundation Director Lynda Hagen
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A Law Foundation-backed research project has found that nearly two-thirds of New Zealanders support automatic trade union enrolment for new job starters, provided they also have the right to opt out afterwards. What's more, support for a "union default" policy extends across society, regardless of political, ... read more. |
August 2019
Animal welfare watchdog needed - Aug LawTalk column by Law Foundation Director Lynda Hagen
| A Law Foundation-backed report is helping drive a push for more effective enforcement of animal welfare law. The report, Animal Welfare in New Zealand: Oversight, Compliance and Enforcement, gained considerable publicity when released at the end of May around its key finding that less than one per cent of complaints under ... read more. |
July 2019
Congratulations to NZ's International Negotiation Team
The Foundation-funded NZ representative team from VUW Law Faculty (Lucy Kenner and Raphael Solomon, coached by Grant Morris), placed 6th at the International Negotiation Competition held in Tokyo this week. Twenty-eight countries competed in this event, with a team from Australia taking out first place. New Zealand teams have an impressive ... read more. |
Otago researchers find 2014 Reforms take Family Justice backwards - July LawTalk column by Law Foundation Director Lynda Hagen
| A major Law Foundation-funded research project has found that around three-quarters of professionals, many lawyers, felt the family justice system had become worse since the 2014 reforms. The findings form part of a detailed 3-year research project involving professionals and separated parents or caregivers on the family justice system and services ... read more. |
June 2019
Report confirms inadequacies of Legal Structures for Social Enterprise organisations and the need for change - June LawTalk column by Law Foundation Director Lynda Hagen
A recent Law Foundation-backed report could be the catalyst for a revamp of the law governing social enterprises - organisations that trade to deliver a social or environmental impact. The report, Structuring for Impact: Evolving Legal Structures for Businesses in New Zealand, finds that current law is preventing social enterprises from ... read more. |
Biography launched on the life of lawyer Shirley Smith - 1916 to 2007
Sarah Gaitanos' book "Shirley Smith: An Examined Life", was launched today, at Unity books in Wellington. The book provides a chronological story of the life of lawyer Shirley Smith from 1916 to 2007, based on Shirley's papers and letters. The Law Foundation funded research for the chapters on her legal life. ... read more. |
2019 NZLF Ethel Benjamin Scholarships announced
We are pleased to announce the award of three NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarships for 2019. The winners are Nichola Hodge, Harriet Farquhar and Rosalind Kos: Nichola Hodge will study for her LLM at Cambridge University focussing on issues of constitutional and human rights law, particularly litigation aspects, in order ... read more. |
May 2019
High Achievement for NZ's 2019 Jessup Team
The NZ Representative Team from Auckland University law school competed at the Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington last month along with more than 680 other teams. This is the largest and most prestigious mooting competition in the world. After four preliminary rounds, the team reached the ... read more. |
New Research finds Government AI use needs Guidelines and Regulator to avoid risks
| New Zealand is a world leader in government algorithm use - but measures are needed to guard against their dangers. This is the conclusion of a New Zealand Law Foundation-funded report from the University of Otago's Artificial Intelligence and Law in New Zealand Project (AILNZP), which was released this week. The ... read more. |
Research on deepfakes released - "Perception inception: Preparing for deepfakes and the synthetic media of tomorrow"
Contemporary audio-visual effects technologies now allow for the creation and manipulation of information in challenging ways never before encountered. They can be used to put words in people's mouths, portray people doing things they never did, copy their faces and voices, or even create entirely new faces and voices that ... read more. |
Animal Welfare research recommends improved funding, inquiry into law enforcement and a Commissioner for Animals in NZ
| Just released Law Foundation-funded research from the University of Otago's Faculty of Law questions whether New Zealand's "world-leading" animal welfare system adequately protects our furry friends, and argues the agencies charged with protecting animals need more funding. The report Animal Welfare in New Zealand; Oversight, Compliance and Enforcement, evaluates how the ... read more. |
Resource Management Reform Project releases Working Paper 1
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EDS has released its first working paper as part of Phase 2 of a Law Foundation-funded Resource Management Law Reform Project. The project is taking a first-principles look at how New Zealand's resource management system could be improved. |
read more.Mobilise citizens to rein in social media giants, study finds
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The just released "Digital Threats to Democracy" research report makes recommendations on dealing with the risks and threats caused by social media and digital platform monopolies. Smart regulation and "human responses," rather than a narrow focus on content moderation alone, are needed to counter the ... read more. |
April 2019
New report finds existing legal structures inadequate for Social Enterprise businesses
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The report,Structuring ... read more. |
March 2019
Current research projects focus on the regulation of fake news and video
| The Law Foundation, through its Information Law and Policy Project, is backing two projects that are looking at how to regulate harmful use of two fast-moving technology areas: video, and social media. The Perception Inception project led by researchers Tom Barraclough and Curtis Barnes is looking into the ethical, legal and ... read more. |
New Patron for the Law Foundation
The Law Foundation is delighted to announce that Chief Justice Winkelmann has agreed to be Patron of the Law Foundation.
[caption id="attachment_9814" align="alignleft" width="150"] Chief Justice Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann[/caption]
This continues the fine tradition of all former ... read more. |
NZ Law Foundation to go into recess
| The New Zealand Law Foundation is to go into recess to allow its funding base to rebuild so that, in time, it can support a new generation of legal research. The Foundation's last funding round will be in June 2020, after which no new grant applications will be accepted. Following that, ... read more. |
February 2019
Major Research Report released on Resource Management Reform by EDS
| EDS has today released its Law Foundation-funded report on phase 1 of its Resource Management Reform Project. The project has taken a first-principles look at how New Zealand's resource management system could be improved. The 340 page synthesis report is the culmination of 18 months of research, thinking and engagement. It ... read more. |
January 2019
Law Foundation brings top speakers to NZ in 2019
| Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars and lectures. We also fund law student attendance at some of these events. In 2019 the Law Foundation is providing up to $124,815 in support of these visits and the ... read more. |
Conference to mark the retirement of the Chief Justice - 31 Jan-1 Feb 2019
| The Legal Research Foundation, with the support of the New Zealand Law Foundation, is holding a 2-day conference to mark the retirement of Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias. A line-up of distinguished international and local speakers will explore the future direction of New Zealand law. This will be an opportunity ... read more. |
November 2018
2018 Winners of Law Foundation's Annual Awards Announced
| 2018 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellow to study "Taxing the Digital Economy"
International tax law expert Professor Craig Elliffe, of Auckland University's Law Faculty, is the recipient of New Zealand's leading legal research award, the 2018 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship Te Karahipi Rangahau ? Taiao.
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NZ Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship awarded to Claire Browning
| The Law Foundation is pleased to announce that Claire Browning has been awarded a Doctoral Scholarship to research constitutional relationships and M?ori law, asking: How do tikanga M?ori concepts of kaitiakitanga and kinship alter our constitutional understanding of relationships?
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2018 NZLF Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address - Judge Doogue suggests disadvantage is a significant factor behind offending
| "Generations of Disadvantage: a view from the District Court Bench" was the title of this year's NZLF Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address, delivered by Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue on 15th October in Dunedin. In her address, Judge Doogue refers to disadvantage as "the circumstances that set people up to make ... read more. |
October 2018
Recently funded Law Foundation projects cover a range of legal matters
| Director of the Law Foundation, Lynda Hagen, has written her most recent article for LawTalk, putting the spotlight on six new projects funded by the Law Foundation. All the projects seek to clarify and improve the law in their chosen areas: Evaluating the Pilot Specialist Sexual Violence Courts - A team ... read more. |
September 2018
NZ needs to be viewed as attractive for Blockchain Technology - according to Research Report "Regulating Cryptocurrencies in New Zealand" from University of Auckland
| A central bank-issued cryptocurrency, thriving cryptocurrency exchanges and the ability for businesses to trade in GST-free cryptocurrency are needed if Aotearoa New Zealand is to enjoy the vast potential benefits from this technology, a new report finds. Based on research funded by the Law Foundation's Information Law and Policy Project, a ... read more. |
Two Law Foundation funded projects profiled in LawTalk cover important Environmental Issues - Review of the RMA - Gene Drive Study
Every month Lynda Hagen, our Law Foundation Director, writes a column for the NZ Law Society's monthly LawTalk magazine, providing insight into the projects we fund.
Our September column covers:
Environmental Defence Society's review of NZ's Resource Management SystemAt the end of this year EDS will release a final project ... read more. |
Third Working Paper released from EDS's Resource Management Reform Project
| This Law Foundation-funded project is taking a first principles look at how New Zealand's resource management system operates and will provide an evidence-based perspective on how it could be improved for the coming decades. The third and final working paper from EDS has just been released and is now available ... read more. |
Shaunnagh Dorsett's book "Juridical Encounters - Maori and the Colonial Courts 1840-1852" a joint winner of 2018 Ian Wards Prize
The Law Foundation congratulates Shaunnagh Dorsett, Professor of Law at University of Technology Sydney, on becoming a joint winner of the 2018 Ian Wards Prize.
 read more. |
Research shows female lawyers greatly under-represented in New Zealand's highest courts
| Research carried out by the New Zealand Bar Association, and funded by the Law Foundation, has shown that female lawyers are greatly under-represented in appearances before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. In spite of there being an equal number of female and male lawyers practising in New Zealand, the ... read more. |
August 2018
Conference to mark the retirement of the Chief Justice - save the date
| The retirement of the Chief Justice in 2019 will be marked with a conference in Auckland. Save the date for 31 Jan, 1 Feb 2019 when distinguished international and NZ speakers will explore tradition and direction in the law. The conference will be organised by the LRF with support from ... read more. |
Top Wellington team wins NZ Law Foundation National Young Lawyers' Mooting Competition against a strong Hamilton team
| The final of the New Zealand Law Foundation National Young Lawyers' Mooting Competition 2018 was held on Wednesday night in the Old High Court, Wellington before a bench of William Young, Glazebrook and O'Regan JJ. In a tightly-contested moot, Matthew Hutcheson and Emma Thomson of Norris Ward McKinnon, who were the ... read more. |
Public Lecture "Chemical Weapons and Other Atrocities" - Tues 7th Aug, University of Otago, by Professor Tim McCormack - Law Foundation's 2018 Distinguished Visiting Fellow
| PROFESSOR MCCORMACK is giving a public lecture at University of Otago Tues 7th August, 5:30pm, Moot Court, Richardson Building, University of Otago.Topic: Chemical Weapons and Other Atrocities: Contrasting Responses to the Syrian Crisis. He is visiting New Zealand during July/August as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2018 Distinguished Visiting ... read more. |
July 2018
NZLF National Young Lawyers' Mooting Competition Final in Wellington 1st August
| The final for the National Young Lawyers Mooting Competition will be held in Wellington at the old High Court, in Stout Street, on Wednesday 1st August 2018 at 6pm. Two winning teams from regional competitions held in May/June will compete before three Judges of the Supreme Court. The competition simulates an ... read more. |
Gene Drive study finds International Agreements and Domestic Laws inadequate
| Research into the uses of Gene Drive, a new form of genetic engineering to wipe out pests, has had a lot of attention but there has been scant recognition of its potential to cross borders and affect a number of other nations. A new Law Foundation-funded study by the Sustainability Council ... read more. |
Two Law Foundation funded projects profiled in LawTalk - Hui on State Care Abuse Inquiry - Artificial Intelligence and Law in NZ
Every month Lynda Hagen, our Law Foundation Director, writes a column for the NZ Law Society's monthly LawTalk magazine. The articles provide insight into the projects we fund. They highlight the often ground-breaking nature of the work and the anticipated benefits for New Zealanders.
Two recent columns:
"Survivor Stories Help ... read more. |
Public Lecture "Chemical Weapons and Other Atrocities" - Tues 17th July, Auckland, by Professor Tim McCormack - Law Foundation's 2018 Distinguished Visiting Fellow
| PROFESSOR MCCORMACK is giving a public lecture at University of Auckland Tues 17th July, 6pm, Room 3.16, Stone Lecture Theatre, University of Auckland Law School.Topic: Chemical Weapons and Other Atrocities: Contrasting Responses to the Syrian Crisis. He is visiting New Zealand during July/August as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2018 ... read more. |
Law Foundation Scholarships/Awards - Applications closing soon - Don't miss out!
Deadlines are approaching for all remaining 2018 Law Foundation scholarships and awards.
Further information and details about the awards and their application deadlines can be found below:
Shadow Report Award – 1st AugustThis award focuses on human rights issues by providing $10,000 towards research for the preparation of a shadow report ... read more. |
May 2018
2018 NZLF Ethel Benjamin Scholarships announced on 20th anniversary of the award
We are delighted to announce three NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarships, awarded this week. The winners are: Rez Gardi, who will study for her LLM at Harvard focussing on the interface between refugee law and Human rights, particularly with reference to child protection systems. ... read more. |
NZLF's 2018 Distinguished Visiting Fellow - International Humanitarian Law expert Professor Tim McCormack from University of Tasmania
| PROFESSOR TIM MCCORMACK is visiting New Zealand during July and August as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2018 Distinguished Visiting Fellow. While in New Zealand he will be hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Canterbury and tour all law schools giving staff seminars and public lectures.
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New Law Foundation Trustee appointed
The Law Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Bernadette Arapere as a new trustee to its Board.
 read more. |
April 2018
Study finds law change needed for driverless vehicle adoption in NZ
| Law change is needed soon to ensure driverless vehicles can be used legally on New Zealand roads, a major Law Foundation study concludes. Study author Michael Cameron says a complete overhaul of law and policy around driverless vehicles is required. New Zealand can afford to take time to get the comprehensive ... read more. |
Doctoral Scholarship awarded to Michael Morrison for legal research into placement of children in State care
| The Law Foundation is pleased to announce that Michael Morrison has been awarded a Doctoral Scholarship to carry out research into the legal mechanisms that regulate the placement of children in State care. He is a PhD candidate at Otago University's Law Faculty. His research is entitled "Long term ... read more. |
New research report recommends improvements to structure and support for Communications Assistants Service in our justice system
| Michelle Bonetti's recently released research report "Communication Assistants (Intermediaries) – Structure, training and support – Lessons for New Zealand" provides a comprehensive overview of the introduction of *Communications Assistants (CAs) into the judicial system in New Zealand. And as the title suggests it makes recommendations for improving this service in ... read more. |
New book "Towards Democratic Renewal" presents fresh ideas for Constitutional Change in New Zealand
| "Towards Democratic Renewal", by Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Dr Andrew Butler, was launched at a function at Unity Books on Thursday 5th April. It sets out the authors' vision for a modern constitution that is aimed at strengthening democracy, protecting rights and liberties, reflecting New Zealand's identity and nationhood, and preventing ... read more. |
New research report to inform debate on reforming disability-related law to protect the rights of people with disability
| The report "Disability Legislation and Outcomes" examines international models of disability and accessibility law. It evaluates the effectiveness of different legislative models in ensuring that the rights of People with Disabilities (PwD) under the UNCRPD** are delivered effectively, particularly under Article 9 "The Right of Accessibility". This Law Foundation funded report ... read more. |
March 2018
Driverless car fatality: expert cautions against regulatory backlash
| NZ Law Foundation 2016 International Research Fellow, Michael Cameron, has provided comment on the first pedestrian fatality involving a driverless vehicle. Michael is the author of a major study on regulation of driverless vehicles which will be released in April. He has warned against a regulatory over-reaction to ... read more. |
New Research Report Released on Rangatahi Maori and Youth Justice
| The Iwi Chairs Forum has just released "Rangatahi Maori and Youth Justice – Oranga Rangatahi". The report prepared by the Henwood Trust, and funded by the Law Foundation, seeks to understand the involvement of rangatahi M?ori (14- to 16-year-olds) in the youth justice system in this country. It asks why so ... read more. |
New study assesses sexual violence court pilot
| Executive Director of the Law Foundation, Lynda Hagen, has written her latest article for LawTalk. Lynda highlights the work of Professor Elisabeth McDonald of the University of Canterbury and Paulette Benton-Greig of the University of Waikato, who are conducting research to assess whether special court processes used in pilot sexual ... read more. |
February 2018
Launch of important new book - This Realm of New Zealand: The Sovereign, the Governor-General, the Crown
| Authors Dame Alison Quentin-Baxter and Professor Janet McLean celebrated the launch of their book "This Realm of New Zealand: The Sovereign, the Governor-General, the Crown" at the Grand Hall of Parliament last night. The event was hosted by the Minister of Justice, Andrew Little, and Sir Kenneth Keith launched the ... read more. |
The Law Foundation welcomes the Borrin Foundation
| The Law Foundation welcomes the newly launched Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation to New Zealand's legal research community. We are delighted to announce our collaborative venture with the Borrin Foundation which will contribute up to $150,000 a year to co-funded projects. We look forward to working with them to benefit ... read more. |
First working paper released from Resource Management Reform Project
| This EDS project is taking a first principles look at how New Zealand's resource management system operates and will provide an evidence-based perspective on how it could be improved for the coming decades. Working paper 1 is the first of three, which will culminate in a final report at the end ... read more. |
January 2018
Two New Law Foundation Trustees are welcomed
| We are pleased to announce the appointment of two new trustees to the Law Foundation Board. Both bring a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience to our board. Auckland Barrister, Miriam Dean QC, has had 35 years' experience in commercial dispute resolution and 20 years in governance; while Karen ... read more. |
Law Foundation brings top Speakers to NZ in 2018
| Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars and lectures. We also fund law student attendance at some of these events. In 2018 the Law Foundation is providing up to $174,351 in support of these visits and the ... read more. |
December 2017
2017 Winners of the Foundation's Annual Awards Announced
2017 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellowship – Te Karahipi Rangahau ? TaiaoThe Law Foundation is pleased to announce that Dunedin barrister, Warren Forster is the 2017 recipient of the New Zealand Law Foundation's International Research Fellowship – New Zealand's premier legal research award that provides recipients with up to ... read more. |
2017 Shadow Report Award winners assess how well NZ honours its Human Rights obligations to CRPD, ICESCR, UPR
| The Law Foundation has two winners for this year's Shadow Report Award - Ng? Hau e Wh? & Associates and The Human Rights Foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand. Both will receive $10,000 towards the preparation and presentation of their shadow reports. Ng? Hau e Wh? & Associates will prepare a ... read more. |
New publication release - "Feminist Judgments in Aotearoa New Zealand - Te Rino; a Two-Stranded Rope"
| This publication is the culmination of a long-running project to produce a collection of alternative judgments, based on feminist legal theory, for significant cases across a broad range of legal issues. The recently released Hart publication, Feminist Judgments of Aotearoa New Zealand: Te Rino: a Two-Stranded Rope, replicated similar projects ... read more. |
November 2017
New Research Released - Wheels of Justice: Understanding the Pace of Civil High Court Cases
| In a New Zealand first, a team of researchers from the University of Otago Legal Issues Centre have investigated the length of High Court civil cases. The goal of this research was to examine if, and where, delays occurred, as well as to see what could be done about them. ... read more. |
New Report - Finding Ecological Justice in New Zealand
| The Law Foundation is pleased to announce the release of a report entitled "Finding Ecological Justice in New Zealand", by Claire Browning. The Foundation-funded report assesses environmental law and injustice in Aotearoa. The report argues that, objectively, environmental law exists to deliver justice, even while we might not think of it ... read more. |
Doctoral Scholarship awarded to Nikita Melashchenko
| The Law Foundation is pleased to announce that Nikita Melashchenko has been awarded a Doctoral Scholarship to research issues surrounding data localisation. Nikita is studying for his PhD at Victoria University's Law Faculty and is examining how data localisation measures implemented by many states might contradict World Trade Organisation rules. With ... read more. |
September 2017
Helping Muslim travellers deal with authorities
| Executive Director of the Law Foundation, Lynda Hagen, has written her latest article for LawTalk. Lynda highlights the work of the Human Rights Foundation, who are developing a best practice model for New Zealand authorities working with the NZ Muslim community in order to build positive relationships and preserve human ... read more. |
New Research Report - "Judging Genes and Choosing Children: revisiting law, ethics and policy in the genomic era"
| Having a baby may never be the same again with increasingly sophisticated genetic testing likely to raise thorny ethical issues, according to this new report. Lead author of the Law Foundation funded report, Dr Jeanne Snelling of the University of Otago's Bioethics Centre and Faculty of Law, says pregnant women now ... read more. |
August 2017
Project celebrates "trail-blazing" women judges
| Women lawyers have had to navigate special challenges to reach the top of the New Zealand legal profession. The career and family experiences of many pre-eminent New Zealand women judges have been recorded in a Law Foundation-backed oral history project completed in June 2017. The project initiative came from ... read more. |
Public lectures by Professor Stephen Smith, NZLF's 2017 Distinguished Visiting Fellow
| Professor Stephen Smith, from McGill University in Canada and also the Law Foundation's 2017 Distinguished Visiting Fellow, is now part-way through his tour of New Zealand law schools. On 10th August he gave a very well received public lecture at VUW entitled "Private Law Remedies: Foundations, Scope, and Structure". At ... read more. |
Listen to Professor Jeremy Waldron's lecture "Polls Apart - Reclaiming respect in a time of polarised politics"
| Professor Jeremy Waldron gave the Maxim Institute's 10th Sir John Graham Lecture in Auckland on Friday 28th July 2017. His lecture set out to address the many divides in contemporary political culture, and suggest a framework of civility that enables political leaders and voters to maintain both our deeply held ... read more. |
July 2017
Research Report launched: "Revised Legal Frameworks for Ownership and Use of Multi-Dwelling Units"
| A BRANZ research report co-funded by the Law Foundation was released on 21 July entitled Revised Legal Frameworks for Ownership and Use of Multi-Dwelling Units, written by Elizabeth Toomey, Jeremy Finn, Ben France-Hudson and Jacinta Ruru. The research aimed to find solutions for better housing in New Zealand by identifying the ... read more. |
Just announced VUW's Joanna Mossop is Joint winner of 2016 JF Northey Award
| The Law Foundation congratulates Joanna Mossop, Senior Lecturer in law at VUW, on becoming the joint winner of the 2016 JF Northey Memorial Book Award. Her book published in 2016, "The Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles – Rights and Responsibilities", draws on her Law Foundation–funded research that made the book ... read more. |
June 2017
NZLF's 2017 Distinguished Visiting Fellow - Professor Stephen Smith from McGill University
PROFESSOR STEPHEN SMITH is visiting New Zealand during August as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2017 Distinguished Visiting Fellow.
While in New Zealand he will be hosted by the Faculty of Law at AUT and tour all law schools giving staff seminars and public lectures.
Professor Smith is a Professor in the ... read more. |
New study prepares for RMA shake-up
| A major review of New Zealand's environmental management system has been launched in anticipation of fundamental reform of the Resource Management Act. The Environmental Defence Society review launched today, New Zealand's Resource Management Law: the Next Generation, is made possible by $356,000 of New Zealand Law Foundation funding. The 18-month project ... read more. |
Law Foundation Scholarship Applications closing soon
The Foundation is New Zealand's major funder of legal scholarships and achievement awards. The scholarships provide several different support options for advanced legal research, post-graduate legal study and human rights research. The awards recognise current or potential achievement for lawyers and legal academics at different levels of experience.
International Research Fellowship ... read more. |
May 2017
"One Court, One Judge" discussion paper published - feedback sought
| The Law Foundation-funded discussion paper authored by Zoe Lawton, "One Court, One Judge: An Integrated Court System for New Zealand Families Affected by Violence" was released today. In her research, Zoe has explored the possibility of redesigning of the District, Youth and Family Courts so that a single judge is ... read more. |
New Research calls for Personal Injury Commissioner
| Changes including establishing a Personal Injury Commissioner are needed to help the hundreds of thousands of injured New Zealanders whose claims are declined each year by ACC, important new research has found. The Law Foundation-backed research, published today, also calls for change to the way ACC determines injury causation. The authors ... read more. |
Upcoming Animal Law Conference - a NZ first
| The Animal Law Conference, run by the New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA), will be the first of its kind in New Zealand on the topic of animal law. The conference, supported by the Law Foundation, will provide a unique opportunity to disseminate information and provide a forum for debate ... read more. |
2017 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship for outstanding women lawyers announced
| Johanna McDavitt is the 2017 winner of the New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship, an award that supports postgraduate research in law that will protect and promote the legal interests of the New Zealand public. Johanna studied at Victoria University (VUW), graduating with an LLB (first class honours), and a ... read more. |
April 2017
‘Brain fingerprinting' has crime-solving potential for New Zealand, pilot study finds
| Forensic brainwave analysis – or ‘brain fingerprinting' – could add a revolutionary new dimension to criminal investigations in New Zealand, a NZ Law Foundation-backed research project led by the University of Canterbury has found. Brain fingerprinting measures involuntary brainwave responses that reveal whether a person recognises particular information. The testing process ... read more. |
Leading Constitutional Lawyer Professor Alan Page gives public addresses on "Brexit" and "How we are Governed"
| Professor Alan Page, one of Scotland's leading constitutional lawyers at the University of Dundee, is visiting New Zealand this month. He is one of many international speakers the Law Foundation is supporting this year. While in New Zealand Professor Page is being hosted by the University of Auckland. He has ... read more. |
Mark Wright awarded NZLF Doctoral Scholarship in Law for his study on enforcement under the RMA
| Mark Wright has won a 2017 New Zealand Law Foundation Doctoral Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to a doctoral candidate carrying out research in a defined area of law for the benefit of New Zealand and its legal system. Mr Wright is studying toward a PhD with the University of Canterbury, ... read more. |
Book launch - The New Zealand Project by Max Harris
| "The New Zealand Project", funded by the Law Foundation, was launched on Tuesday 11 April 2017 at the Royal Society of New Zealand in Wellington. This ambitious project by an exceptional young New Zealander confronts the challenges that New Zealand will face in the coming years. Max's analysis ranges across foreign ... read more. |
February 2017
Research into environmental compliance highlights the need for significant improvements
| The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has released a new report "Last Line of Defence: compliance, monitoring and enforcement of New Zealand's environmental law" by Senior Policy Analyst Dr Marie Brown. The report is based on research findings from Dr Brown's Law Foundation funded project that sought to outline the role and ... read more. |
VUW launches Joanna Mossop's book "The Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles"
| The Law Foundation congratulates Joanna Mossop, Senior Lecturer in law at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), on the launch of her book The Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles – Rights and Responsibilities. The book draws on her Law Foundation–funded research titled "The Rights and Responsibilities on New Zealand's Outer ... read more. |
New Patent Law and Policy book just launched
| The Law Foundation congratulates Professor Susy Frankel (VUW Law School) and Dr Jessica Lai (VUW Business School) on the publication of their new book Patent Law and Policy, funded by the Law Foundation. Patent Law and Policy addresses two core questions: - What is the law in New Zealand when it ... read more. |
Five "Last Line of Defence" RMLA Roadshows on Research Findings on Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement of Environmental Law in NZ - by Dr Marie Brown (EDS)
| Dr Marie Brown from EDS is presenting five roadshows on her latest Law Foundation–funded research "Strengthening Regulatory Outcomes: practice, innovation and enhancement of environmental enforcement in New Zealand". Dates for the Last Line of Defence roadshows: • 8th Feb Hamilton • 9th Feb Auckland – sorry fully booked • 14th Feb Nelson • 15th Feb ... read more. |
January 2017
Law Foundation brings top Speakers to NZ in 2017
| Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars and lectures. We also fund law student attendance at some of these events. In 2017 the Law Foundation is providing up to $130,310 in support of these visits and the ... read more. |
Rethinking surrogacy law
| New Zealand should join the UK and Australia in considering law reform around child surrogacy arrangements, a Law Foundation-backed study finds. Changing social and scientific conditions are rendering child surrogacy law increasingly outdated, forcing judges to "creatively interpret" existing law, according to a major three year University of Canterbury research project ... read more. |
Major new study to tackle artificial intelligence law and policy
| Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming at us before we fully understand what it might mean. Established ways of doing things in areas like transport regulation, crime prevention and legal practice are being challenged by new technologies such as driverless cars, crime prediction software and "AI lawyers". The possible implications of AI ... read more. |
December 2016
View videos from Law Commission's Law Reform Symposium held Nov 2016
Four videos of presentations are now available on YouTube from the Law Commission's 30th anniversary symposium titled The Law Reform Community in the 21st Century, held 3rd Nov 2016 in Wellington.
The videos cover four sessions:
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Three new projects funded from the ILAPP Fund
| The New Zealand Law Foundation is delighted to announce research awards from the recent applications considered under the Law Foundation's Information Law and Policy Project (ILAPP). ILAPP is a catalyst for some exciting new research that will better prepare New Zealand for the challenges of the information age. The ... read more. |
November 2016
2016 Winners of the Foundation's Annual Awards Announced
Winners of the 2016 awards were announced at the Law Foundation's Annual Awards dinner held at Te Papa on Tuesday 29th November.
2016 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellowship - Te Karahipi Rangahau ? TaiaoMichael Cameron, Lead Legislation Solicitor with the Department of Corrections, was awarded the 2016 New Zealand Law ... read more. |
Research Report Released on Experiences of Grandparents in the Family Court - pre the 2014 changes
| Pukeko Research has released results of a Law Foundation funded survey on a group of grandparents raising their grandchildren - grandparents who had been involved in custody and guardianship matters in the Family Court prior to the 2014 changes. The study, titled "Study of Grandparents in Family Court Proceedings over their ... read more. |
Fifth International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Court Competition - 2-3 Dec 2016 - Wellington
| New Zealand Red Cross, in conjunction with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will run the fifth International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Court Competition for New Zealand law students on 2nd and 3rd December 2016, in Wellington. This is the only competition of its type in New Zealand. ... read more. |
Shirley Smith Address - by Professor Ngaire Naffine - 5.30pm Wed 23 Nov, VUW Law School
| Professor Ngaire Naffine will present this year's Shirley Smith Address on the topic "Manliness, Male Right and Criminal law: the Uses of Criminal Law in the Formation of the Character of the Male Legal Person". 5:30pm, Wed 23 Nov 2016 – VUW Law School, Lecture Theatre-2, behind the Old Government Buildings, ... read more. |
Highly successful round table on "Access to Justice for Indigenous Peoples" - held in Waikato
| The Law Foundation provided support for the Access to Justice Round Table held at Waikato University on 26 October 2016 in association with the Maori Indigenous Governance Centre and Griffith University, Australia. Discussion centred around systematic challenges within our legal systems which create hurdles for indigenous peoples to gain access to ... read more. |
October 2016
Just released - "Patent Law and Policy" book by Susy Frankel (VUW)
| The just released Patent Law and Policy book is Professor Susy Frankel's second publication based on her Law Foundation funded research project titled "Intellectual Property Law for a Small Developed Country". The book addresses two core questions: What is the law in New Zealand when it comes to patents? What is ... read more. |
YouthLaw report recommends changes in view of the rise in cases of informally removed students
| Youthlaw today released their research report titled "Barriers to Education in New Zealand: the Rise of Informal Removals of Students in New Zealand". The research, funded by the New Zealand Law Foundation, highlights the experiences of a number of children removed from school in a manner inconsistent with the provisions ... read more. |
Research is Underway on Regulating New Digital Currencies
| The first research project for the Law Foundation's $2m Information Law and Policy Project (ILAPP)* is already underway. It is titled "Regulating Digital Currencies that use Blockchain Technology" and it deals with one of the most game-changing and challenging technology innovations in the world of business and finance. You may have ... read more. |
Subscribe to the Law Foundation's YouTube channel and find out about latest legal research projects and what visiting legal experts have to say
| The Law Foundation invites you to subscribe to its YouTube channel and find out about our latest legal research projects underway or recently completed. Our NZLF Snapshot series of videos has short interviews with leading New Zealand researchers whose projects we are funding. The projects tackle a range of legal ... read more. |
September 2016
Foundation backs constitutional conversation - based on book "Constitution Aotearoa" being launched at Parliament today
| The conversation has started on a written constitution for New Zealand – and the Law Foundation is backing the discussion. Former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Dr Andrew Butler launch their book, Constitution Aotearoa, at Parliament today Wednesday 21st September, with the aim of stimulating a national constitutional debate. The ... read more. |
Outstanding contribution: Otago Law Professors Skegg and Smillie are acknowledged
| Yesterday the Otago Law Faculty celebrated the launch of two Law Foundation funded books written in honour of their academic staff: Emeritus Professor Peter Skegg and Emeritus Professor John Smillie. The books, "Law, Ethics, and Medicine: Essays in honour of Peter Skegg" and "The Search for Certainty: Essays in Honour ... read more. |
August 2016
New $2M fund for research on information challenges
| A new, independent $2 million research fund is now available for projects that will better prepare New Zealand for the challenges of the information age. The New Zealand Law Foundation's Information Law and Policy Project (ILAPP), launched at Parliament tonight by Justice and Communications Minister Amy Adams, will develop law and ... read more. |
Iwi chairs work on new framework aimed at reducing youth offending
| A Law Foundation-backed project is helping the National Iwi Chairs Forum develop a new basis for interacting with the state to achieve better outcomes for young M?ori offenders. The "engagement framework" will be developed by iwi, with assistance from Judge Carolyn Henwood and Jennifer George of the Henwood Trust. Judge Henwood says ... read more. |
Calling legal scholars - apply now for Law Foundation Scholarships
Every year at about this time the Law Foundation reminds legal researchers to get their applications in for the latest round of New Zealand Law Foundation scholarships. Closing dates for most of our awards are coming up soon.
International Research FellowshipNew Zealand's premier legal award, the International Research Fellowship (IRF), is ... read more. |
NZLF's 2016 Distinguished Visiting Fellow - Professor Graham Virgo from University of Cambridge
PROFESSOR GRAHAM VIRGO is visiting New Zealand during August as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2016 Distinguished Visiting Fellow.
While in New Zealand he will be hosted by the Faculty ... read more. |
NZLF National Young Lawyers' Mooting Competition Final Results
| For the second year in a row the regional team from Canterbury-Westland won the Law Foundation's National Young Lawyers' Mooting Competition. Our congratulations go to the winners Stephanie Mann and Sam Henry who won the final moot against Tim Burtenshaw and Simon Schofield from the Waikato-BOP team. The final was ... read more. |
July 2016
Study by Alison Douglass finds mental capacity law needs updating for better patient protection
| People with impaired decision-making capacity need better legal protection to ensure their confinement in care arrangements is warranted, important new research has found. Researcher Alison Douglass says urgent review is needed of New Zealand's law protecting and promoting the rights of people with impaired ability to make their own life decisions. "Many ... read more. |
Human Rights in New Zealand: Emerging Faultlines - new book release
| "Human Rights in New Zealand" was launched by Bridget Williams Books at a public event in Wellington on 20th July. The book is based on a research report Fault lines: Human Rights in New Zealand published in April 2015 by the book's authors Judy McGregor, Sylvia Bell and Margaret Wilson ... read more. |
NZLF's 2016 Distinguished Visiting Fellow - Professor Graham Virgo from University of Cambridge
| PROFESSOR GRAHAM VIRGO is visiting New Zealand during August as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2016 Distinguished Visiting Fellow.
While in New Zealand he will be hosted by the Faculty ... read more. |
June 2016
Research reveals changes are needed to retain young lawyers in the profession
| A ground-breaking report on the experiences of new New Zealand lawyers has today been released highlighting the need for the profession to consider making changes to improve work satisfaction and hopefully the retention of graduates in the workplace. The report, funded by the Law Foundation, says that the way ... read more. |
Proposed Constitution for NZ encourages public debate
| The Law Foundation is backing work led by former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer to draft a model New Zealand Constitution, with the intention of stimulating public debate. Sir Geoffrey says the country needs a constitution that is "fit for the modern age" to prevent governments from abusing power. He is working ... read more. |
20th NZLF Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address - to be given by The Hon. Marcia Neave AO
The 2016 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address will be presented by The Hon. Marcia Neave AO, at 1pm on 14th July at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 The Octagon, Dunedin.
Details about the event |
VUW research publication examines the state's power to obtain and retain DNA
| Research into the pre-trial collection and retention of DNA in New Zealand was carried out by Dr Nessa Lynch, senior lecturer in law at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). Results of the study, published late in 2015, concluded that individual rights must be carefully balanced with the public good when ... read more. |
Support for further Research on Protecting Biodiversity in New Zealand
| Environmental Defence Society (EDS) began research in May on their latest project "Strengthening Regulatory Outcomes: practice, innovation and enhancement of environmental enforcement in New Zealand". This is their third project relating to the protection of biodiversity in NZ. All three have been funded by the Law Foundation and led by ... read more. |
"Powerful" Digital Treaty Collection now live
| Many leading works on the Treaty of Waitangi are now available digitally via a single online "e-collection", thanks in part to Law Foundation support. In early April, Bridget Williams Books' (BWBs) Treaty E-Collection went live, giving subscribers online access to significant works on the Waitangi Tribunal, Treaty settlements and histories of ... read more. |
May 2016
2016 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winners announced
| The New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin scholarship for outstanding women lawyers has this year been awarded jointly to Holly Hedley and Bree Huntley. The award honours New Zealand's first woman barrister and solicitor, Ethel Benjamin, who was admitted in 1897. It supports postgraduate research in law that will protect ... read more. |
NZ Team wins Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation Competition for 7th Time
| The New Zealand team, made up of Eve Bain and Fayez Shahbaz from Victoria University of Wellington, has won the International Client Consultation Competition that took place 27-30 April in Windsor, Canada. This is the seventh time in 19 years that New Zealand has won this event. This year's competition was ... read more. |
April 2016
Taking Stock of Family Justice Reforms
| University of Otago Evaluates 2014 Family Law Reform The 2014 Family Court reforms fundamentally changed the ways that separated couples gain access to the family justice system. Having had two years to settle in, a comprehensive study on how well the reforms are working is now underway, thanks to Law Foundation ... read more. |
The Law Foundation is now on Facebook
| The Law Foundation is pleased to announce its brand new Facebook page, aimed at promoting awareness of legal research and scholarship funded by the Foundation. We will keep our page regularly updated with links to recent research reports, publications, and videos of keynote speakers. We hope to start academic ... read more. |
Stimulating Public Debate - the TPPA
| The Law Foundation has an established track record of supporting projects that shed light on controversial issues. More recently it funded work on the highly charged issue of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). The project attempted to demystify complex issues and stimulate debate through a series of expert analyses on aspects ... read more. |
March 2016
EDS launches "Pathways to Prosperity: safeguarding biodiversity in development"
| The EDS publication Pathways to Prosperity, was launched by the Director-General of Conservation, Lou Sanson, in Auckland on Monday 29 February.
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February 2016
Law Foundation brings top speakers to NZ in 2016
| Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars and lectures. We also fund law student attendance at some of these events. In 2016 the Law Foundation is providing up to $155,467 in support of these visits and the ... read more. |
New projects tackling big issues
| 2016 promises to be an exciting year for the Law Foundation, with more new projects under way than ever before. Listed below are some of the projects most recently approved by our Board – they address some of the more challenging legal issues of our time, including surrogacy law, ACC appeals, ... read more. |
January 2016
Justice Minister Adams commends the work of the Foundation
| Hon Amy Adams, Minister of Justice and Minister for Courts, was the keynote speaker at the NZ Law Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner held on 3rd December 2015 at Te Papa in Wellington. Her speech is now available via this NZ Government web page and via the Law Foundation's publications page. ... read more. |
December 2015
2015 Winners of the Foundation's Annual Awards are Neil Boister, Ashiq Hamid and Alexandra Sinclair
Winner of 2015 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellowship
 Neil Boister, Professor in Law at University of Waikato, was awarded the 2015 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship at the Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner held at Te Papa ... read more. |
September 2015
Student Mooting Competitions receive $72,000 in 2015
Each year the NZ Law Foundation assists student mooting teams' participation in competitions by funding their travel costs. For almost 20 years, it has supported the following four key mooting competitions annually:
Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation CompetitionThis year's competition was hosted by the University of Nebraska School of Law in Lincoln ... read more. |
August 2015
2015 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship Winners
Two young lawyers – Stephanie Thompson and Rebecca Thomson – are winners of this year's New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship.
Stephanie ... read more. |
Law Foundation brings top International Speakers to NZ in 2015
| Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars and lectures. We also fund law student attendance at these events. In 2015 the Law Foundation is providing up to $114,206 in support of these visits and the dissemination of ... read more. |
July 2015
Research Identifies Barriers to Accessing Justice with ACC Appeals
| Research carried out by a team of researchers in partnership with Acclaim Otago (Inc) has found serious barriers to access to justice for people challenging ACC decisions through the court system. This research was funded by NZ Law Foundation and produced in collaboration with the University of Otago Legal Issues ... read more. |
The FIRE Economy book launch - Jane Kelsey
| Jane Kelsey's latest Law Foundation funded book The FIRE Economy will be launched on 14 July in Wellington. This will be followed by public talk events in Auckland and Christchurch. Here are the details: Wellington: Tues 14 July, 5.30pm – National Library of NZ Cnr Molesworth and Aitken Streets Jane Kelsey in conversation ... read more. |
May 2015
NZLF Board Appointments
| We are delighted to announce the appointment this month of Jonathan Temm to the Foundation board. Jonathan is a past president of the NZ Law Society and a barrister in Rotorua. We are sad to farewell long-serving board member Warwick Deuchrass who is stepping down after almost 12 ... read more. |
April 2015
National Mooting Competition for Young Lawyers
| 4 MAY 2015, NZ LAW FOUNDATION NATIONAL YOUNG LAWYERS' MOOTING COMPETITION The Law Foundation is backing the expansion of a regional advocacy event into a national competition for young lawyers. The New Zealand Law Foundation National Mooting competition started life as a Wellington-only event in 2013 organised by the Wellington Young ... read more. |
VUW Conference - Law and Trade with Latin America
| Conference – Common Grounds: Nueva Zelanda y América Latina – Una Perspectiva Jurídica 21-23 October 2015, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON This two-day conference will provide an opportunity to gain an understanding of Latin America's commercial and trade laws within an economic and cultural context. It aims to share knowledge about the ... read more. |
New videos: Appearing in the Family Court - without a Lawyer
| Two new community videos titled "Without a Lawyer in the Family Court" have been made to provide insight into the workings of the Court. They enable viewers to gain a clear understanding of what to expect and how best to prepare for their own appearances. The production of the videos, ... read more. |
New book "Vanishing Nature" highlights need to take action to protect NZ's biodiversity
| The new EDS* publication ‘Vanishing Nature: facing New Zealand's biodiversity crisis' presents an exhaustive analysis of New Zealand's biodiversity status and management. It evaluates its weaknesses and identifies practical options for strengthening it. The book, produced with funding from the NZ Law Foundation and others, is the result of 2 years ... read more. |
New Zealand's Human Rights Reputation at Risk
| A report on the status of human rights in New Zealand says serious fault lines are developing and that the country's reputation as a global leader is at risk. "A three year study of the six major human rights treaties that New Zealand has signed shows we're better at talking about ... read more. |
February 2015
Law Foundation brings Top International Speakers to NZ in 2015
| Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars, lectures and other events. In 2015 the Law Foundation is providing up to $76,170 in support of these visits and the dissemination of knowledge that comes from them. Here is a ... read more. |
December 2014
New Book Takes Fresh Look at Success of Youth Justice in NZ
| "New Zealand's Gift to the World: the Youth Justice Family Group Conference", is a celebration of New Zealand's Family Group Conference (FGC) that came into being with the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989, 25 years ago. This Law Foundation-funded publication is co-authored by Judge Carolyn Henwood*, and writer ... read more. |
Winner Announced for 2014 Cleary Memorial Prize
Seamus Woods is the 2014 winner of the New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize. Not only is he a top academic achiever, he also has an impressive background in community ... read more. |
2014 International Research Fellowship Awarded to Dunedin Barrister
Alison Douglass, Dunedin Barrister and Convenor of the New Zealand Law Society's Health Law Committee, has been awarded the 2014 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellowship.
Mental Capacity: Updating the ... read more. |
Biography "Prendergast: Legal Villain?" is now available
Grant Morris's biography of New Zealand's infamous and second longest serving Chief Justice, James Prendergast, was launched by Justice John McGrath on 12 November. The venue was the magnificent old High Court in Wellington where Justice Prendergast himself had ... read more. |
October 2014
NZ Law Foundation's 2014 Distinguished Visiting Fellow is Professor Jane C. Ginsburg
| TOURING ALL NZ LAW SCHOOLS AND GIVING PUBLIC LECTURES This year's fellow is a copyright law expert, Professor Jane Ginsburg of New York's Columbia Law School. Professor Ginsburg will be hosted by the Law Faculty at Victoria University of Wellington during Oct-Nov. She will spend 4-5 weeks touring New Zealand ... read more. |
Foundation funds research examining "Designer Baby" issues
| The Law Foundation is funding an important new study analysing the legal, ethical and social issues around human pre-implantation genetic testing. Principal Researcher Dr Jeanne Snelling, of the Otago University Bioethics Centre, says whole genome analysis (WGA) is already being used to identify genetic contributors to complex diseases like cancer and ... read more. |
Law Foundation/Justice Ministry agreement delivering results
| A formal cooperation agreement between the Law Foundation and the Ministry of Justice is starting to produce tangible results. Late last year the Foundation and the Ministry's Policy Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a closer working relationship for their mutual benefit. The agreement includes provision for both organisations to ... read more. |
Much anticipated "Foreign Relations Law" book release by 2010 Law Foundation International Research Fellow
The release of Professor Campbell McLachlan's book "Foreign Relations Law" marks the completion of his project for which he was awarded the 2010 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellowship*.
McLachlan, a Professor ... read more. |
September 2014
Auckland Mooting Competition Provides Valuable Advocacy and Courtroom Experience for Junior Lawyers
Twelve teams recently competed in the NZ Law Foundation Mooting Competition run by the NZLS Auckland Branch Young Lawyers' Committee*. ... read more. |
2014 Law Foundation Dispute Resolution Lecture
Professor Thomas Stipanowich, of Pepperdine University, California will deliver the 2014 NZ Law Foundation International Dispute Resolution Lecture. His public lecture titled "International Mediation and Conflict Management: Near a Tipping point?" will be held:
Tues 30th Sept at VUWWed 1st Oct at University ... read more. |
August 2014
View Professor Helen Alvaré's Lecture "When Freedoms Collide" - 2014 Sir John Graham Lecture
| Professor Helen Alvaré from the George Mason School of Law in Virginia USA was the 2014 presenter of the Maxim Institute's Sir John Graham Lecture, which was funded by the Law Foundation. Her lecture "When Freedoms Collide" was delivered to an audience of about 250 on 31st July at ... read more. |
2014 Student Mooting Competitions receive $72,000 annual funding
Each year the NZ Law Foundation assists student mooting teams' participation in competitions by funding their travel costs. For almost 20 years, it has supported the following four key mooting competitions annually:
Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation CompetitionThis year's competition was held in San Juan (Puerto Rico) 9-12 April, and New Zealand ... read more. |
July 2014
Mooting Competition Hones Court Advocacy Skills for Junior Lawyers
Following the success of an inaugural competition last year, the Wellington Young Lawyers' Committee* organised a mooting competition aimed at giving ... read more. |
Regulatory reform book earns high praise
| The Law Foundation's regulatory reform project offers huge potential to positively influence public policy. There was backing for that view recently from one of New Zealand's leading law reformers, Professor John Burrows. Professor Burrows is a leading commentator on the New Zealand legal system. His distinguished career includes, most recently, ... read more. |
June 2014
New Online Legal Journal
| A new legal journal funded by the Law Foundation has just been launched. The Public Interest Law Journal of New Zealand is an annual, refereed publication showcasing articles written by New Zealand law students on topics of importance to vulnerable groups in society as well as the general public. The ... read more. |
2014 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship has Three Recipients
| Three young lawyers – Lani Inverarity, Elizabeth Chan and Zoe Fuhr – are the winners of this year's New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship. Lani Inverarity plans to study towards an LLM at Yale University. Her two areas of intended specialisation will be intelligence law reform and the rights ... read more. |
Scholarship Applications Reminder of Closing Dates
Law Foundation awards $230,000 annually for Scholarships. This year five scholarships will be awarded, three of which are now open for applications:
Shadow Report Award – closing date is Friday 1st August
$10,000 is awarded annually, to help human rights advocates report on New Zealand's compliance with its international treaty obligations.
How ... read more. |
April 2014
Law Foundation brings Top International Speakers to NZ in 2014
| Every year Law Foundation support enables many eminent international legal experts to visit New Zealand and speak at conferences, seminars, lectures and other events. In 2014 the Law Foundation is providing $139,000+ in support of these visits and the dissemination of knowledge that comes from them. Here is a snapshot of ... read more. |
February 2014
Book release - ‘New Zealand's Mental Health Act in Practice'
| Over 500 copies of the book New Zealand's Mental Health Act in Practice were released in November 2013 at five Mental Health Law Conferences held in main centres around NZ. The book, funded in part by the New Zealand Law Foundation, presents a thorough, non-governmental review of the workings of the ... read more. |
New Thinking on Sustainability Conference
| 14-16 Feb 2014 VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON (VUW) The ‘New Thinking on Sustainability Conference' is being held by the Earth Law Alliance Aotearoa NZ and the German Australian Pacific Lawyers Assn, and hosted by the NZ Centre for Public Law at VUW from 14-16 Feb. The New Zealand Law Foundation is ... read more. |
December 2013
Evaluating Problem-Solving Courts project releases 5 reports
| The Centre for Mental Health Research at the University of Auckland has just released 5 reports as part of their preparatory study on problem-solving courts in New Zealand. The project, headed by Dr Katey Thom, sought to provide an evaluation model that could be applied across all problem-solving courts. Dr Thom ... read more. |
Blog now available for NZ Style Guide
| The New Zealand Law Style Guide, presently in its second edition (2011) now has a blog run by the Style Guide editorial team. The blog aims to provide posts that are helpful for Style Guide users, and will include news and updates as well as resolving common queries. ... read more. |
Sir Geoffrey Palmer's Book ‘Reform - a memoir' is launched
| Sir Geoffrey Palmer's book ‘Reform –a memoir' was launched on 21st November at the Grand Hall of Parliament. This autobiography recounts events and forces that shaped the life of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, from his childhood in Nelson through to his career as a politician, a law professor and a law practitioner*. As ... read more. |
Ceri Warnock 2013 International Research Fellow
| Otago University senior law lecturer Ceri Warnock is the 2013 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellow. Ms Warnock's research, which will be conducted in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, is entitled The New Zealand Environment Court: Importance and Limitations. The objective of the study is to conduct the first ... read more. |
Sam McMullan 2013 Winner of Cleary Memorial Prize
| Sam McMullan is the 2013 winner of the Cleary Memorial Prize, announced at the Law Foundation Annual Awards dinner at Parliament's Grant Hall on 4 December 2013. Mr McMullan graduated from Victoria University in 2010 with an LLB with first class honours and a BA (in Asian Studies and Japanese) ... read more. |
November 2013
Acclaim Otago Receives Law Foundation Award
| Acclaim Otago (Inc), a support group for injured New Zealanders and their families with members throughout New Zealand, has recently been awarded the annual NZ Law Foundation Shadow Report Award. This funding will be used to produce and present a shadow report to the United Nations on New Zealand's compliance ... read more. |
October 2013
Law Foundation awards $72,000 annually to student mooting teams
Each year the NZ Law Foundation assists student mooting teams' participation in competitions by funding their travel costs. It has supported the following four key mooting competitions annually for almost 20 years.
Philip C Jessup International Law MootThe Jessup Moot is known as the largest, oldest and most prestigious competition ... read more. |
Future use of Genetic Evidence in the NZ Justice System
| ‘Dealing with Genes for Criminality' was the title of a Genetics Week lecture given by Associate Professor Colin Gavaghan and Professor Julian Savulescu on 25 September at the University of Otago. The lecture looked at known genetic links to violent criminal behaviour, and considered how genetic evidence could potentially be used ... read more. |
September 2013
Research report now available on the Role of District Inspectors
| The Centre for Mental Health Research at the University of Auckland has published a report on the role of District Inspectors. District Inspectors are appointed by the Minister of Health to ensure that the rights of people detained for compulsory psychiatric treatment are respected and upheld. The report for this project, ... read more. |
August 2013
NZ's Constitutional Traditions - Conference Live-streaming link
| The conference Unearthing New Zealand's Constitutional Traditions runs 29-30 August at Parliament and is being live-streamed. It can be viewed via this link: https://new.livestream.com/i-filmservices/NZCPLconf2013
The conference is being run by the New Zealand Centre for Public Law and is hosted by Hon Chris Finlayson QC. It aims to shed ... read more. |
July 2013
New Toolkit aids better regulation in New Zealand
 An important new weapon in the ongoing battle to achieve effective regulation in New Zealand was launched in Wellington on Thursday 4th July.
The New Zealand Law Foundation Regulatory Reform Toolkit ... read more. |
May 2013
Recipients of 2013 Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship to study Private Law and Tax Law
The 2013 recipients of the NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship were announced at the annual Ethel Benjamin Address held in Dunedin on 8 May. This year the ... read more. |
New publication on Smarter Regulation in NZ is launched
| 'Recalibrating Behaviour: Smarter Regulation in a Global World' was launched by Sir Geoffrey Palmer at the Regulatory Reform Conference at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) on 23 April. This is the second publication from the NZ Law Foundation Regulatory Reform Project, led by Professor Susy Frankel of VUW. Over the past 2+ ... read more. |
April 2013
11th IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium, 24-28 June 2013
| Te Piringa – Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato is hosting the 11th IUCN Academy* of Environmental Law Colloquium in June this year. The NZ Law Foundation is providing support to bring overseas keynote speakers to the event. This is the first time the IUCN Academy has held their ... read more. |
International Assn of Women Judges holds Regional Conference in Auckland
| The NZ Association of Women Judges is hosting a regional Asia-Pacific Conference for the International Association of Women Judges with the support of the Law Foundation. The conference will be held 10-12 May in Auckland and will bring together judges from a range of jurisdictions to discuss issues of common concern. ... read more. |
17th Annual NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address
| Justice Catherine Davani will deliver the 2013 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, in the Octagon, at 1pm on Wednesday 8 May. The Address commemorates Ethel Benjamin, New Zealand's first woman lawyer, and celebrates her pioneering spirit, and the advancement of women ... read more. |
Radio NZ broadcasts Debates on the Constitution - hosted by NZ Centre for Public Law
| During April and May, the Foundation is supporting the NZ Centre for Public Law (Victoria University of Wellington) to host a series of debates on issues raised by the government's review of the New Zealand constitution. The debates will be recorded with a live audience and broadcast on Radio NZ ... read more. |
VUW hosts Regulatory Reform Conference - 23-24 April 2013
| The Victoria University Faculty of Law will host the Conference 'Recalibrating Behaviour: Smarter Regulation in a Global World' on 23-24 April 2013. Keynote speakers include Professor Fiona Haines from the School of Social and Political Sciences at University of Melbourne and Professor Jonathon B Wiener from the Nicholas ... read more. |
March 2013
Research Report now available on Expert Witnesses in NZ Criminal and Family Courts
Dr Emily Henderson and Professor Fred Seymour released their research report titled ‘Expert Witnesses Under Examination in the New Zealand Criminal and Family Courts' on Friday 8 March. The report has been published by the University of Auckland's School of Psychology and is now available on the Law Foundation website. ... read more. |
February 2013
Public Lecture dates: Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
New Zealand Law Foundation's 2013 Distinguished Visiting Fellow Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers will present public lectures during his visits to New Zealand law schools from 4 March until 28th March 2013. He is being hosted by the University of Auckland's School of Law.
University of Otago, Faculty of LawPublic ... read more. |
First President of Supreme Court of UK is Law Foundation's 2013 Distinguished Visiting Fellow
LORD PHILLIPS OF WORTH MATRAVERS is visiting New Zealand in March as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2013 Distinguished Visiting Fellow. His visit is being hosted by the ... read more. |
Know Your Rights TV Series Returns
The Know Your Rights television series produced in 2012 will re-screen from 6 Feb to 1 May on Sky Channel 89 weekly on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. Presenter, Catriona MacLennan, says the series is aimed at improving access to a range of legal information. It particularly targets those who have English ... read more. |
November 2012
Inaugural Human Rights Award announced
| New Zealand has been an active supporter of human rights legal development internationally, and the Law Foundation has often backed work in this area. Earlier this year we launched a new human rights award - the New Zealand Law Foundation Shadow Report Award, supporting people or organisations preparing shadow ... read more. |
Cleary Prize shared this year
Two lawyers have won the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize.
Catherine Harwood and Rebecca Rose were announced as this year's winners at the Law Foundation's 2012 Annual Awards Dinner, hosted by Justice Minister Judith Collins at Parliament's Grand Hall on 29 November.
 read more. |
NZ's Premier Law Prize announced
Dr Emily Henderson will research the reform of cross-examination as the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation International Research Fellow.
Her award of the fellowship was announced at the New Zealand Law Foundation 2012 Annual Awards Dinner, hosted by ... read more. |
October 2012
Inaugural International Dispute Resolution Lecture by International Expert Lucy Reed
The inaugural New Zealand Law Foundation International Dispute Resolution Lecture takes place on 7 November at Victoria University Law School.
The inaugural lecture will be given by Lucy Reed, a top-ranked international arbitration practitioner and past President of the American ... read more. |
Youth Advocates in NZ's Justice System
| Recently released research suggests Youth Justice Lawyers are doing a good job of protecting young people's rights in our New Zealand justice system. Researcher Alison Cleland, Senior Lecturer in law at University of Auckland, launched her research report "Youth advocates in Aotearoa/New Zealand's youth justice system – Exploring the roles, functions ... read more. |
September 2012
Pacific Law and Culture Conference
| The conference Law and Culture 2012: Pacific Law and Aotearoa/New Zealand, was held at the University of Auckland from 29-31 August, and hosted by the Faculty of Law. The focus for the conference was on the NZ-Pacific relationship and current legal challenges that face Pacific nations. Presentations were given on issues ... read more. |
Podcasts available for AMINZ Conference presentations
| Podcasts are now available for presentations given at the Conference of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) in Wellington on 2-4 August 2012. Of particular interest is the keynote address "Global to Local" given by Professor Ingeborg Schwenzer, Chair of the Advisory Council for the United Nations ... read more. |
13th International Criminal Law Congress
| The 13th International Criminal Law Congress is being held in Queenstown this week, with the theme "The Shrinking International Criminal Code". The programme covers a diverse range of criminal justice topics including: cybercrime, future forensic challenges, brain-injured criminal justice detainees, the effectiveness of special intervention courts and bill of rights issues. The ... read more. |
August 2012
Law Foundation Awards: Applications closing soon!
| Applications for the International Research Fellowship applications close on 1 September and the Cleary Prize applications/nominations close on 30th September. Applications for the Doctoral Scholarship close on 1 October. Please contact Lynda Hagen (04 499 1038; email: lynda@lawfoundation.org.nz) if you need further information or visit our scholarships page. ... read more. |
July 2012
ANZSIL Conference Keynote Addresses Available
| The 20th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (ANZSIL) was held 5-7 July in Wellington and hosted by the NZ Centre for Public Law, at Victoria University. The conference titled "International Law in the Next Two Decades: Form or Substance?" looked at the development of ... read more. |
Read the 16th Annual NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address
| Justice Kate O'Regan delivered the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address in Dunedin on 23 April. Notes of her address "Transforming the judiciary – a continuing South African journey" are now available for you to read.
Justice O'Regan was judge of the South African Constitutional Court from ... read more. |
June 2012
Popular "Know Your Rights" TV series ends mid-July
| The final 4 episodes of television series "Know Your Rights" will screen from 28-June to 19-July on Triangle Television. This very successful 13-part series has been aimed at improving access to a range of legal information, particularly for those who have English as a second language or who do not ... read more. |
The Good Doctor - A powerful prescription for change
| The Law Foundation funded the recent publication of an important new book, The Good Doctor – What Patients Want, by former Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson, now a professor in Auckland University's Law Faculty. What makes a good doctor? Why are there bad doctors out there still practising? ... read more. |
Launch of new award to help NZ human rights watchdogs
| A new award is now available to help human rights advocates report on New Zealand's compliance with its international treaty obligations. The New Zealand Law Foundation Shadow Report Award worth up to $10,000 will be available each year to a non-government organisation or individual interested in Human Rights issues. United Nations organisations ... read more. |
May 2012
Uptake of Coroners' recommendations to be investigated
| A major new study will examine whether Coroners' recommendations are being acted on and helping save lives. Otago University researchers Professor Mark Henaghan and Dr Jennifer Moore will review all Coroners' findings and recommendations between 2006 and 2011 and interview around 60 agencies and organisations to determine how ... read more. |
2012 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner to study fresh water regulation in US
Environmental law enthusiast Amelia Keene has won the 2012 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship for outstanding young woman lawyers.
Amelia will use the $50,000 award to undertake an LLM course at Columbia University in New York. Her research paper will compare ... read more. |
More Mooting Success for NZ
| The Otago University Law School team of Alex Brooke, Rob Clarke and coach Selene Mize were the winners of the International Client Consultation Competition in Dublin at the end of April. The Otago team won the right to represent New Zealand at the competition when it won the National ... read more. |
April 2012
NZ Jessup Team Top Four Placing
| The University of Auckland Law School was placed in the top four in the 2012 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot - the world's largest and most prestigious moot court contest - held in Washington in late March. They were narrowly beaten in the semi finals by ... read more. |
March 2012
Minister Banks supports Regulatory Reform Project
| At the launch of the first publication from the Law Foundation's flagship research project, the Hon John Banks, Minister of Regulatory Reform acknowledged in his speech the foresight of the Foundation in making this project possible. The Regulatory Reform Project team is led by Victoria University's Professor Susy Frankel, ... read more. |
February 2012
Study backs more response options for sex offending - feeds into Law Commission research
| Alternative ways of dealing with sexual offending should be tried, given stubbornly unchanged prosecution rates and high levels of victim dissatisfaction with the system, a Law Foundation-backed study has concluded. These might include substituting jury trials with judges either sitting alone or assisted by lay assessors, as used in European jurisdictions. ... read more. |
Public Lecture dates: Professor Andrew Ashworth CBE QC
| New Zealand Law Foundation's 2012 Distinguished Visiting Fellow Professor Andrew Ashworth will present public lectures during his visits to New Zealand law schools from 28 Feb until 1st April 2012. He is being hosted by the University of Canterbury School of Law. University of Canterbury, School of Law Public Lecture: ... read more. |
January 2012
Second Edition of New Zealand Law Style Guide Published
| The second edition of the highly successful New Zealand Law Style Guide is out now and accessible from this site. The first edition, funded by the Law Foundation, and published in 2009, has quickly become the standard for the citation of New Zealand legal material. Justice ... read more. |
November 2011
Foundation's Most Prestigious Awards Announced
Studies on banking, unrepresented litigants and oceans governance will be funded by New Zealand Law Foundation scholarships announced at the annual awards dinner on 17th November.
The Foundation's 2011 International Research Fellowship, New Zealand's premier legal research award, was ... read more. |
2011 Cleary prize-winner announced
David Turner has packed more into his 24 years than most people do in a lifetime – but he's only just getting started.
A straight-A law student, David is a Supreme Court Judge's clerk with a raft of legal prizes ... read more. |
October 2011
LawCan Donations
Thank you for your donation!
Our online donation site has now closed but donations are still being accepted. If you wish to make a donation, please deposit it directly to:
LawCan Fund, ASB Bank A/c No. ... read more. |
Oxford Professor is Law Foundation's 2012 Distinguished Visiting Fellow
ANDREW ASHWORTH is visiting New Zealand in February and March 2012 as the New Zealand Law Foundation's 2012 Distinguished Visiting Fellow. His visit is being hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Canterbury.
Professor Ashworth ... read more. |
Questioning Child Witnesses - Latest Research Report Released
| The latest report on Questioning child witnesses from the Foundation-funded AUT study has just been released. A full copy of the report can be downloaded here. The research was undertaken by Dr Emma Davies, Dr Kirsten Hanna, Dr Emily Henderson and Dr Linda Hand. The ... read more. |
July 2011
NZ Students win award at International Negotiation competition
Law Foundation-sponsored Waikato Law students were rewarded for their negotiating skills at an international competition in Denmark.
Ben Gilbert and Andrew Cameron were representing New Zealand at the international negotiation competition in Copenhagen, and ... read more. |
Scholarship Applications - Reminder of Closing Dates
| Applications for our newest Human Rights award, the Shadow Report Award, close on 1 August. The International Research Fellowship applications close on 1 September and the Cleary Prize applications/nominations close on 30th September. Applications for the Doctoral Scholarship close on 1 October. Please contact Lynda Hagen (04 499 1038; ... read more. |
June 2011
2011 Ethel Benjamin Scholars choose Harvard
There are three Ethel Benjamin scholarship winners for 2011. The three recipients of this New Zealand Law Foundation award are Charlotte Leslie, Anna Crowe and Natalie Coates and all three intend to study for an LLM at Harvard University.
Charlotte ... read more. |
LawCan Fund launched to help restore Canterbury legal services
| The Law Foundation has launched a special fund – LawCan – so lawyers and law firms around the country can support Christchurch people with urgent and ongoing legal needs following the devastating earthquake.
"The ... read more. |
A Simple Nullity? The Wi Parata Case in NZ Law and History
In 1877, in the case of Wi Parata v Bishop of Wellington, the justices of the New Zealand Supreme Court infamously dismissed the Treaty of Waitangi as 'a simple nullity'. Castigated by judges, lawyers and commentators in ... read more. |
NZ's oceans governance to be scrutinised
The effectiveness of New Zealand's oceans governance regime will come under close scrutiny in a project being undertaken by a University of Canterbury environmental law specialist.
Karen Scott, from the University's School of Law, has been awarded $50,000 ... read more. |
May 2011
A preliminary study on civil case progression times in NZ
| Due to the increasing concern that cases take too long to progress through the court system and that litigants are becoming increasingly frustrated with these delays, researchers at the Otago University Law Faculty conducted a preliminary investigation on the speed of resolution of civil cases in New Zealand. The project had ... read more. |
March 2011
Public Lecture Series Announced for 2011 Distinguished Visiting Fellow
Emeritus Professor in Environmental Law Ben Boer from the University of Sydney, the 2011 New Zealand Law Foundation's Distinguished Visiting Fellow, has confirmed his public lecture series while he is in New Zealand. The dates and venues are:
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New Zealand Law Foundation Distinguished Visiting Scholar 2011
Emeritus Professor in Environmental Law Ben Boer from the University of Sydney is the 2011 New Zealand Law Foundation's Distinguished Visiting Fellow. Between 2006 and 2008, he was the international Co-Director of the IUCN ... read more. |
November 2010
Joint Cleary prize winners
| Two young lawyers, Rebecca Elvin and Matthew Windsor, have jointly won the Law Foundation's Cleary Memorial Prize for 2010. The New Zealand Law Foundation presented the prizes at its fifth Annual Awards dinner in Wellington on 24 November. A former joint dux of St Cuthbert's College in Auckland, Rebecca graduated from Otago ... read more. |
Law Foundation recognises internationally respected scholar
Professor Campbell McLachlan QC has received New Zealand's premier legal research award, the 2010 NZ Law Foundation International Research Fellowship.
The award was made at the Law Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner on 24 November. Worth up to $125,000 ... read more. |
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 ... read more. |
Planning good regulation for the future
Badly designed and poorly implemented regulation can cost the taxpayer billions, as evidenced by the leaky home issue. Good regulation can be expensive, but is often worth the investment. ... read more. |
August 2010
Law Foundation Funded Conference on Reconstituting the Constitution 2/3 September 2010
| This conference,"Reconstituting the Constitution", builds on an earlier conference "Building the Constitution", hosted by Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies, and will discuss recent issues relevant to major constitutional change. 17-year-old Wellington College student Rayhan Langdana is looking forward to the prospect of speaking at Parliament before a conference of politicians, ... read more. |
Foundation releases major report into Relocation Disputes
| Relocation disputes are widely regarded as one of the most controversial and difficult issues in family law internationally. The New Zealand Law Foundation funded a socio-legal research team from the University of Otago to undertake a three-year study on relocation following parental separation from 2007 to 2009. This ... read more. |
Law Foundation brings leading UK Academic to NZ to discuss miscarriages of justice
 read more. |
May 2010
Auckland women win prestigious Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship
| Auckland women win prestigious Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship The winners of this year's New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship were announced at the annual New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address held in Dunedin on 7 May. The two women lawyers who received the 2010 scholarship are Sarah Nolan ... read more. |
April 2010
Child Witnesses face more injustice in criminal courts
| Children becoming distressed under examination, language barriers and excessive delays are some of the issues raised in a Law Foundation-funded report about child witnesses being launched today. Child witnesses in the New Zealand criminal courts: a review of practice and implications for policy is being released by AUT's Institute of Public ... read more. |
Lady Hale to deliver Ethel Benjamin address
Lady Hale of Richmond, justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, will deliver this year's New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address.
This 14th annual address ... read more. |
