The Law Association’s specialist committees have had a substantial first half of 2026. Across 18 committees, members have contributed to more than a dozen formal submissions, engaged with government agencies and supported the CPD programme. Below is a snapshot of the work that has defined the period.
Criminal and public law front and centre
Several of the year’s most significant reform processes have landed in criminal and public law territory. The Criminal Law Committee submitted on the Arms Bill, the Crimes Amendment Bill and the Policing Amendment Bill, each raising questions about proportionality, fair trial rights and the limits of enforcement powers. The submissions acknowledged legitimate public concerns around retail crime, assaults on first responders and one-punch violence, while insisting that new offences remain coherent and consistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
The Public and Administrative Law Committee has been equally active. Its submission on the Public Works Amendment Bill raised concerns about emergency acquisition powers and the adequacy of objection and appeal rights where Māori land is affected. It also contributed to submissions on the Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill, the Policing Amendment Bill and the Modern Slavery Bill.
Technology in the spotlight
The Technology and Law Committee’s submission on the Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill was a significant body of work. The committee commended the bill’s technology-neutral approach to intimate deepfakes while recommending refinements on identifiability thresholds, consent provisions and platform-side regulation. It also submitted on the Telecommunications and Other Matters Amendment Bill and contributed to guidance on facial recognition technology for retailers.
A milestone publication
The Property Disputes Committee marked a significant moment with the launch of the Property Disputes Rulings Manual. The manual brings together more than 80 rulings spanning 35 years, covering settlement disputes, cross-leases, deposits, unit titles, misdescription claims and contractual interpretation. Contextual notes flag where legislation or forms have since changed, keeping older rulings relevant for current practice. It is a substantial resource and a reflection of the committee’s long-running contribution to practical dispute resolution.
Committees working together
A defining feature of the first half of the year has been the volume of cross-committee work. The Modern Slavery Bill drew in three committees, addressing labour exploitation, migrant worker vulnerability and the public law framework of the proposed regime. The GST treatment of court-awarded costs brought together civil litigation, employment law and family law practitioners. The Policing Amendment Bill required coordination across criminal law, public law and technology and law. That breadth of response reflects both the complexity of current reform and the depth of expertise available across The Law Association’s specialist committees.
Updated documents
The Documents and Precedents Committee released the updated Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate, Eleventh Edition (4), on 21 April. The revision available on LegalForms aligns the document with the new IPP3A privacy requirements, among other changes.
What’s ahead
The second half of 2026 will bring further legislative activity and further demands on committee time. One development worth noting is that The Law Association is in the process of launching a new Finance Committee later this year, expanding the total number of specialist committees from 18 to 19.
The output described above is built on hundreds of volunteer hours, contributed by practitioners who bring both expertise and patience to the business of law reform. Their contribution underpins The Law Association’s standing as a leading voice across the full range of legal issues facing the profession and the public.
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