| Agency Name: | Law Commission |
| Native Name: | Maori: Te Aka Matua o te Ture |
| Formed: | 1 February 1986 |
| Headquarters: | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Motto: | Kia whanake ngā ture o Aotearoa mā te arotake motuhake Better law for Aotearoa New Zealand through independent review |
| Employees: | 20.45 FTE (2020)[1] |
| Budget: | 4.047m NZ$ (2020)[2] |
| Minister1 Name: | Paul Goldsmith |
| Minister1 Pfo: | Minister of Justice |
| Chief1 Name: | Amokura Kawharu |
| Chief1 Position: | President |
| Keydocument1: | Te Tauākī Whakamaunga Atu Statement of Intent 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2024 |
New Zealand's Law Commission (Maori: Te Aka Matua o te Ture) was established in 1986 by the Law Commission Act 1985.[3] [4] The commission is an independent Crown entity as defined in the Crown Entities Act 2004.[5]
The main objective of the Law Commission, as declared in its founding legislation, is to monitor and critically analyse the laws of New Zealand with a view to identifying—and proposing solutions to—their possible shortcomings.[6] The Law Commission reviews, reforms and develops New Zealand law. It then makes recommendations to Government to improve the law. It also advises its Responsible Minister and government agencies on how to make the law more accessible and easier to understand.
The commission has a commitment to consult the public on areas of law that it reviews. It promotes discussion and consultation by publishing Issues Papers. It invites submissions from the public before it makes recommendations to the Responsible Minister. It publishes these recommendations in a report to Parliament. The Minister tables the report and the government then decides whether and how it will amend the law.
The commission is part of the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies.
In 2001, the commission published a notable report on the influence tikanga Māori on Pākehā law conventions.[7]
As of November 2023, the Law Commission comprises three commissioners:[8]
The commission's projects have included: