Dan Conway & Gandhya Senanayake
In the second of our two-part series, we showcase the significant contribution made by The Law Association’s specialist law committees in responding to major legislative reform, advocacy and representation.
The committees covered in this update have worked across criminal law, public law, civil litigation, property law, trusts, mental health and disability law, health and safety law, and environmental and resource management law. Their activity reflects the breadth of current legal reform in New Zealand and the increasing demand for practitioner insight on issues that affect both the profession and the wider public.
Criminal Law Committee
The Criminal Law Committee has had an active start to 2026.
The committee submitted on the Arms Bill. The submission supported the objective of strong firearms regulation but focused carefully on the need to preserve foundational criminal law principles, including proportionality, fair trial protections and the proper allocation of evidential burdens.
The committee submitted on the Crimes Amendment Bill. That work addressed proposed changes in response to retail crime, assaults on first responders, violent one-punch attacks and human trafficking. The submission recognised the legitimate public interest in protecting victims and strengthening public confidence in the justice system, while emphasising that new offences and penalties must remain coherent, operationally sound and consistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
Through April, May and June, submissions focused on the Policing Amendment Bill, the Trespass (Specified Retail Premises and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, and the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill. These matters required consideration of search, enforcement, prosecution, public safety and harm reduction issues.
The committee has also continued to support criminal law practice more broadly through practitioner education and engagement on changes affecting court processes and criminal procedure.
Property Law Committee
The Property Law Committee continued to provide a clear practitioner voice on property law reform and regulation.
In June, the committee submitted on the Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill. The submission recognised the importance of better oversight of boarding house accommodation, particularly given the vulnerability of some tenants. It identified practical concerns about whether the bill focused sufficiently on the suitability of boarding houses themselves, rather than only on the characteristics of landlords.
The committee’s recent work builds on its 2025 submissions on the Building and Construction Amendment Bill, the Valuers Bill, the LINZ consultation on certification of electronic instruments and the proposed statutory adjudication framework.
The committee has continued its broader engagement with property sector stakeholders. Its public remit includes liaison with LINZ, REINZ, the courts, banks, the Tenancy Tribunal and government departments.
That breadth of contact remains important as property lawyers continue to navigate digital conveyancing, regulatory change, banking processes, tenancy reform and practical issues arising in property transactions.
Committee members have contributed to CPD events and conferences – including property law and the property disputes conference – and helping ensure members receive practical guidance on issues affecting day to day practice.
Civil Litigation Committee
The Civil Litigation Committee focused on access to justice, court process and the practical operation of civil procedure.
In February, the committee contributed to The Law Association’s submission on Inland Revenue’s GST guidance on court awarded costs and disbursements. The submission was prepared jointly with the Civil Litigation, Employment Law and Family Law Committees and focused on practical application issues rather than technical tax policy.
The committee’s work has been especially important during a period of procedural change. The High Court (Improved Access to Civil Justice) Amendment Rules came into force on 1 January 2026. In response, committee members have been involved in CPD work to help practitioners understand the practical effect of the changes, including how they affect litigation strategy, evidence, discovery, case management and client advice.
This included CPD on the High Court Rules changes, as well as related civil litigation sessions covering written evidence, discovery, privilege and case law updates.
Public and Administrative Law Committee
Over the first half of 2026, the Public and Administrative Law Committee has remained active across a range of public law matters.
In January, the committee submitted on the Public Works Amendment Bill. The submission recognised the importance of timely public infrastructure but raised concerns about the balance between efficiency and the protection of individual and collective rights. It addressed objection and appeal rights, emergency acquisition powers, the position of Māori land, compensation processes, and the need for transparency and oversight.
In May, the committee contributed to submissions on the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill and the Policing Amendment Bill. In June, it contributed to the submission on the Modern Slavery Bill.
Public and administrative law requires close attention to constitutional principles, public power, procedural fairness, rights protection and sound public administration. The committee’s work has helped ensure these matters are not lost in reform processes.
Environment and Resource Management Law Committee
The Environment and Resource Management Law Committee has continued to be central to The Law Association’s response to major resource management reform.
In February, the committee submitted on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill. This followed its significant 2025 work on national direction reform packages and the Fast Track Approvals Amendment Bill.
The committee’s focus remains on workability, efficiency and effectiveness in environment and resource management law and practice. That perspective is vital as New Zealand continues to reshape its planning and environmental management framework.
The committee’s engagement with stakeholders such as the Environment Court, the Ministry for the Environment and councils gives it a strong practical understanding of how reform will operate.
Trust Law Committee
The Trust Law Committee continues to consider trust law issues, landmark cases, professional education and areas where trust law overlaps with tax, property, family and succession matters.
Its 2025 submission on the Taxation Bill remains part of that broader focus, particularly where tax settings affect trust structures, administration and compliance.
In the first half of 2026, committee members were involved in CPD and conference work, including the C2G 2026 programme on life, legacy and succession.
That involvement reflects the committee’s practical value to the profession. Trust law often develops through practice, case law and careful statutory interpretation rather than through high profile legislative reform.
The committee’s role is therefore to maintain depth, support practitioners and identify issues before they become systemic problems.
Mental Health and Disability Law Committee
In the first half of 2026, the Mental Health and Disability Law Committee was engaged in consultations and key cases shaping the mental health and disability landscape in New Zealand.
This included consideration of the proposed Disability Support Services Bill, which seeks to introduce a new legislative framework for disability support services in New Zealand.
Alongside its policy work, the committee maintained a strong focus on professional development, including planning for the Mental Health and Disability Law Update scheduled for August 2026.
The committee also prioritised engagement with District Inspectors for Mental Health, inviting them to attend meetings to discuss matters of shared interest and importance. In addition, specialists in mental health and disability reform were welcomed as guest speakers to address topical issues and help strengthen professional networks.
The committee continued to maintain a watching brief over significant developments in case law, legislation, and policy within the sector.
Health and Safety Law Committee
The Health and Safety Law Committee has been engaged across a wide spectrum of legislative, policy and professional development initiatives. I
In particular, the committee drafted The Law Association’s submission on the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill, which is intended to strengthen and refine the operation of New Zealand’s workplace health and safety regime. This work involved careful analysis of proposed reforms and engagement with the practical implications for duty holders, regulators and the wider legal community.
The committee continued to monitor and assess significant developments in health and safety case law. This included consideration of the landmark decision in Maritime New Zealand v Gibson, as well as the outcome of the subsequent appeal.
The committee’s discussion of these cases provided valuable insight into evolving judicial approaches to liability, enforcement and sentencing under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
To ensure its work remains grounded in current practice and responsive to emerging trends, the committee regularly invites guest presenters from key industry bodies and regulatory agencies to attend meetings.
These sessions provide an opportunity to explore sector-specific developments, share practical perspectives and discuss emerging risks and expectations within New Zealand workplaces. This ongoing engagement helps ensure the committee remains well connected to industry realities.
Documents and Precedents Committee
The Documents and Precedents Committee has played a central role in the development, review and ongoing refinement of The Law Association’s LegalForms suite.
Its work has been directed toward maintaining the precision, practicality and relevance of key forms across a range of practice areas, ensuring they keep pace with legislative change and the evolving needs of practitioners.
Through its subject-matter expertise and oversight, the committee has enhanced the integrity and dependability of The Law Association’s document library. This contribution has been particularly important in the context of the launch of ‘LegalForms by TLANZ’ on 1 October 2025.
The new platform gives practitioners efficient access to a wide-ranging collection of trusted legal documents, all developed by experienced lawyers. The committee has played a vital role in readying these forms for transition to the platform, helping to ensure it offers a contemporary, reliable and user-focused resource.
A highlight for the committee was the release of the updated Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate (ASPRE) Eleventh Edition 2022 (4) on 21 April, which modernised the form to reflect legal and practice changes, including alignment with the new IPP3A privacy requirements.
Law committee work reflects the commitment of volunteer committee members who give their time, expertise and judgment to support the profession. Their contribution remains central to The Law Association’s representative voice and to its ability to respond with credibility across a wide range of legal issues. Work has not been limited to submissions. Committees have monitored emerging issues, engaged with stakeholders, supported CPD and professional development and provided a forum for experienced practitioners to discuss reform proposals. The common theme is clear: the committees are not merely reacting to change – they are helping to shape it.
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