The Bar Association Welcomes New President Dr Simon Foote KC
01 October 2026The New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture welcomes our new President, Dr Simon Foote KC. Simon succeeds Paul David KC after a two-year term that saw our Association navigate a range of significant issues affecting both the bar and the wider justice system. Simon has been part…
Read moreMemorandum of Understanding
11 September 2026Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa | The Māori Law Society (THRMoA) and the New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture (NZBA) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two associations. The MOU formalises a commitment by THRMoA and NZBA to…
Read moreConsultation on Proposed Changes to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 - Survey Results
11 September 2026The New Zealand Law Society has released the results of its consultation on proposed changes to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 and related regulations. While some proposals received support, the consultation produced mixed results overall, with significant concerns raised about several of the more far-reaching reforms.
Read moreAccess to Justice Winner 2026 Erin Ebborn
04 September 2026Erin Ebborn has been awarded the 2026 Access to Justice Award, sponsored by LexisNexis and the New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o Te Ture, in recognition of her longstanding commitment to legal aid and access to justice. The award recognises members of the legal profession who make an…
Read moreRule of Law Keynote | Roddy Dunlop KC
03 September 2026Address to the Bar Association of New Zealand: The Independence of the Legal Profession.
Friends and colleagues: it is a very great privilege to be here with you today. It is a great honour to be invited here to deliver my famous – some would even say legendary – talk on public…
How to Keep Your Business Moving When the Lights Go Out
27 August 2026Infrastructure failures can have an immediate impact on legal practice, whether caused by severe weather, internet or power outages, or transport disruptions. During the January 2026 storms, Tauranga Moana, where I live, was significantly affected. Roads were blocked for more than 24 hours, and power was out for nearly two…
Read moreAccess to Justice Five Years On
27 August 2026Frances Joychild KC was the inaugural winner of the LexisNexis New Zealand Bar Association Access to Justice Award in 2022. Here she writes on what is happening in the Access to Justice field today in civil law and makes two substantial recommendations for change. There has been much activity in…
Read moreInterim reinstatement and the new section 123C of the Employment Relations Act 2000
27 August 20262026 has seen the biggest changes in employment law since the introduction of the Employment Relations Act 26 years ago. Among those changes are a radical overhaul of remedies for personal grievances, making it more difficult for an employee to obtain remedies for personal grievances in numerous circumstances. One of…
Read moreBeyond “Be Careful” Josh McBride on Tautoru AI
27 August 2026Heard about Tautoru AI, but not quite sure what it is or why it matters? We spoke with barrister Josh McBride about the website he built, the problem it is trying to solve, and why lawyers need clearer guidance on using AI safely.
For barristers who haven’t come across Tautoru AI…
Update on Legal Aid Changes
07 August 2026The Legal Services Commissioner has provided an update on changes being made to the legal aid scheme in response to feedback from providers. The NZBA has actively engaged with the Commissioner over the past year, including advocating for practical measures to reduce administrative burdens and improve the operation of the…
Read moreNominations Open for Access to Justice Award 2026
28 July 2026The Bar Association and LexisNexis are pleased to open nominations for the 2026 Access to Justice Award. We now invite nominations for the 2026 award. You can nominate a colleague or yourself for this award. It is open to all New Zealand barristers sole, barristers and solicitors, academics, and law students.…
Read moreLaw Commission reports on hate crime offences
24 July 2026Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission reviewed the law relating to hate crime, with a focus on whether the law should be changed to create standalone hate crime offences.
The Commission’s Final Report concluded that the current legal model, which takes hostile motivation into account at sentencing, remains…