27848v2a Learners Guide
27848v2a Learners Guide
Learner’s Guide
LEGAL STUDIES
Explain a law
making process
Licensed to:
Western Heights High School
2018 - 2a © ATC New Zealand
www.instant.org.nz
i
About this
Learner’s Guide
Learning Purpose & Outcomes
In this guide, you will learn about four processes used to make law.
• the law reform process
• Judge-made law
• status of the Treaty of Waitangi
• law based on religion.
For each of these law making processes, you will complete a case study that focuses on the
development of a specific law.
A glossary containing difficult or technical terms has been provided at the end of this guide.
These words are highlighted the first time they appear in the main text.
Contents
Law reform 2
What is law reform? 3
Law reform process in New Zealand 4
Alcohol law reform in New Zealand 7
Judge-made law 19
What is judge-made law? 20
Process of developing judge-made law 23
Case study: Judge-made law in relation to what it means to act ‘dishonestly’ 25
Cases that highlight the development of law relating to theft in New Zealand 27
Viewpoints 31
Treaty of Waitangi 33
What is the Treaty of Waitangi? 34
The Waitangi Tribunal 37
Law making process and the Treaty of Waitangi 39
Case study: The Māori Language Act 41
Differing viewpoints 45
Glossary 61
References 62
LESSON 1:
Law reform
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you will learn about the law reform process. By the A space has been left
end of the lesson, you will be able to explain: on the right of every
page for you to make
what law reform is notes about what
the law reform process in New Zealand. you are learning.
You will also complete a case study on alcohol law reform. In
particular, you will study the following in relation to alcohol law reform:
• history
• Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act
• reasons for the law change
• process involved
• differing viewpoints.
Law reform is the analysis of an existing law with the aim to improve
the law. Many different organisations or people may be involved in
the law reform process. These include:
• law commissions
• political parties
• individual Members of Parliament
• lobby groups
• concerned citizens.
Law reform occurs in all areas of the law. Our laws are constantly
changing to better reflect the needs and goals of society (or, some
would say, the dominant members of society).
Each organisation or person involved in the law reform process
wants their own values or ideals to be made into law. For example,
big businesses may want laws that protect the environment to be
relaxed so they can have more freedom to participate in economic
activities. Environmental groups, on the other hand, may want
environmental laws strengthened so it is harder for businesses to do
things that may potentially affect the environment.
Stage 1
The first stage in the law reform process is the time where evidence
for a change in law is collected. The evidence may be collected by
the following.
a) The Law Commission
The Law Commission is a crown entity that is independent from
the government. It reviews areas of law that need updating
and then it makes recommendations to Parliament. These
recommendations are published for the public to review.
Parliament does not have to follow the recommendations that
the commission makes, but it should take them into account.
b) Lobby groups
In New Zealand, there are various non-governmental lobby
groups that pressure Members of Parliament about legislative
changes that need to be made. They may conduct research or
survey the public and present this information. An example of
one lobby group is the Sensible Sentencing Trust. This Trust
lobbies for harsher sentencing of criminals. It does this by:
• making press releases about the sentences that various
offenders have received
• making submissions to select committees
• writing to various Members of Parliament (MPs) to encourage
them to vote a certain way.
Lobby groups can only influence political parties to:
• submit a bill
• vote for a bill a certain way.
The do not have any specific power to create reform themselves.
c) Political parties
Political parties themselves have their own policies about
changes to laws that need to be made. The only political party
that is able to fully implement its policies is the party that has
been voted into government. Other political parties can only use
member’s bills to reform laws.
d) Members of Parliament
Members of Parliament are able to create draft law and have
these laws heard by Parliament. The option to have these bills
heard is somewhat limited because they have to be drawn from
a ballot. Once the bill is drawn from the ballot, it enters the
second stage of the process.
Stage 2
Once it has been decided that a law needs to be changed, it follows
the Parliamentary law making (or amending) process. This process is
as follows.
Step Description
Committee
If the bill passes the vote, it is then debated by all
of the Whole
in Parliament.
House
Third reading The bill is summed up and then voted on for the
and final vote final time.
Try it for Write a description of the roles that the following people
Yourself have during the law reform process.
Lobby groups
Members of Parliament
Political parties
The Governor-General
In this section, you will complete a case study on the alcohol law
reform in New Zealand. In particular, you will learn about the process
that was followed in the creation of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol
Act 2012 and subsequent amendments.
History
Many legal changes have been made to the sale and consumption
of alcohol in New Zealand over the past 150 years. Throughout the
history of New Zealand there have been laws that have restricted
when, where, and by whom alcohol can be consumed.
Although this was the final outcome of the law, there were many
other recommendations about what should be included in the law.
These included:
• increasing the price of alcohol through tax increases in order
to reduce consumption
• increasing the alcohol purchasing age to 20
• restricting opening hours for shops that sell alcohol
• reorganising the system to help people with alcohol problems.
Before you read the next section: Why do you think the
Try it for changes were made to the alcohol-related legislation?
Yourself Write your ideas in the space below.
One of the key reasons given for the law reform was to reduce
alcohol-related harm. The Minister initially in charge of the Bill,
Simon Power, argued that it was the first time in two decades that
Parliament has acted to restrict alcohol laws, rather than relax them.
The laws that Parliament had made to relax alcohol laws had not
worked and changes had to be made.
Note: At the start of the law reform process, the Bill was known
as the Alcohol Reform Bill. However, it was split into the three
bills during the Committee of the Whole House stage. The
alcohol reform legislation now has three Acts.
• Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012
• Local Government (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Act 2012
• Summary Offences (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Act 2012
These new laws replaced the Sale of Liquor Act 1989.
Try it for Answer the questions that follow based on your own
Yourself knowledge.
2. What does striking a sensible balance mean in relation to this case study?
3. Why do you think that people would argue the bill does not go far enough?
Process followed
The typical law reform process was followed in this situation.
Stage 1
Firstly, the Law Commission produced a report on laws relating to
alcohol. The report was called Alcohol in Our Lives: Curbing the
Harm.’2
Stage 2
At the second stage, the Bill went through the Parliamentary
process. There was a lot of debate about the Bill at this stage. Some
people or organisations thought the bill went too far. Others thought
it did not go far enough.
Step Description
Introduction
of bill The Alcohol Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament.
8/11/10
Over 7,000 people made submissions on the Bill. Most people supported
the intent of the Bill but wanted more restrictions on the sale of alcohol. The
Select Government adopted all 130 of the Select Committees recommendations.
Committee
These included:
18/2/11 -
• only allowing supermarkets to display alcohol in one, non-prominent area
25/8/11
of the store
• prohibiting convenience stores from selling alcohol.
At the second reading, Simon Power outlined the changes that were adopted
by the select committee. Other Members of Parliament were able to make
submissions about these changes.
Second Lianne Dalziel, from the Labour party, stated:
reading
‘I have to say that this Bill is a travesty, because it does not even begin
13/9/11 to address the challenges that were posed by the evidence that the Law
Commission has put in front of the Government of New Zealand and that
should have been the basis for a bill that was introduced into the House. The
bottom line is that this Bill ignores what the people said they wanted’.4
At this stage, the whole Bill was debated by those in Parliament. Many
Committee different aspects of the Bill were discussed including the new drinking age
of the Whole requirements and the effects that the law could have on different members of
House society. Members of Parliament submitted Supplementary Order Papers with
30/8/12 - suggested amendments to the law.
6/12/12 Also, given the size of the Bill it was decided to split it into three different bills.
One of these bills was called ‘the Sale and Supply of Alcohol’ Bill.
Continued on next page...
The changes made during the Committee of the Whole House stage was
outlined and then voted on.
Third reading
and final vote Gareth Hughes, a Member of Parliament for the Green Party stated:
11/12/12 ‘As I said, the Green Party will be voting in support, but we lament that the
measures in this legislation are not going to be the most effective that they
could be’.5
Area Summary
Reasons or
need for the
law
Key features
or steps
involved in the
creation of the
law
People or
organisations
involved in the
creation of the
law
Differing viewpoints
As you have already seen, there were a wide variety of opinions
about the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Bill and the effect that people
thought it would have. Read what the following people/groups said
could be the effect of the alcohol reform on the community.
Case What effect do they think the law change could have?
National party
Labour party
The Law
Commission
Christchurch
National
Addiction
Centre
Canterbury
District Health
Board
Professor
Jennie Connor
(Alcohol
Action NZ)
LESSON 2:
Judge-made
law
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you will learn about judge-made law. By the end of
the lesson, you will be able to explain:
what judge-made law is
judge-made law in New Zealand
the process of making judge-made law.
You will also complete a case study on judge-made law in relation to
what it means to act ‘dishonestly’. You will look at:
• section 217 Crimes Act 1961
• reasons for the changes to the definition
• the process of changing the law
• differing viewpoints.
So far, you have learnt that law comes from legislation that is
developed by Parliament. However, law is not developed by
Parliament alone. Judges in New Zealand also have an active role in
developing and refining law.
Judges develop law to cover areas where the legislation is not
sufficient. If a case goes to court, a judge has to make a decision
in relation to the law. However, there are times when legislation
may not adequately cover the case that is before the courts. For
example, the courts may be hearing a case that deals with new
technology and legislation may not cover this. In such cases, judges
will need to develop or refine law themselves.
The way that judges make law is very different to the way that it is
made by Parliament. Parliament can make almost any law it wants
- as long as it has the support of the House of Representatives.
Judges, on the other hand, can only refine and define statute law.
Judges refine law by hearing a case and then making a decision
on it. For each decision, they will make comments about their
interpretation of the statute law or traditional legal principles.
The higher the level of the judge, the more weight that the decision
has. Over time, other judges (who are a lower level) follow the
decision that the higher level judge has made. Lower level judges
will refer to the decisions of higher level judges when they are
deciding cases.
Try it for
Answer the questions that follow.
Yourself
3. What did the Court of Appeal decide in the Ngati Apa case?
4. What did the Government do as a response? Why did the Government do this?
Process of developing
judge-made law
As you can see, the judge has used different sources to make his
decision. He has used:
a) relevant legislation (The Evidence Act 2006)
b) previous relevant cases (R v Soutar, R v Dewar, Transport Ministry
v Garry).
In the future, this case may also be used to support the decisions
that judges will make on other cases, especially if this case makes a
new statement on the law.
In this section, you are going to look at how the meaning of the term
‘dishonestly’ in relation to theft has developed under judge-made law.
Try it for
What does the concept ‘acting dishonestly’ mean to you?
Yourself
In this section you are going to look at how the meaning of the term
‘dishonestly’ in relation to theft has developed under judge-made law.
Try it for For each of the three previous cases above, describe
Yourself how the meaning of ‘dishonestly’ was developed.
R v Ghosh
R v Hayes
Area Summary
Reasons or
need for the
law
Key features
or steps
involved in the
creation of the
law
People or
organisations
involved in the
creation of the
law
Viewpoints
Differing viewpoints
As you have already seen, the meaning of ‘dishonestly’ in relation to
New Zealand law has been discussed in detail by the courts.
Here are some different viewpoints that were held:
The Crown’s
argument in R
v Hayes
Judge’s
decision in R
v Hayes
LESSON 3:
Treaty of
Waitangi
Learning Objectives
In this lesson you will learn about the Treaty of Waitangi and how it
is involved in the law making process. By the end of the lesson, you
will be able to explain:
what the Treaty of Waitangi is
the Waitangi Tribunal
law making process and the Treaty of Waitangi
the status of the Treaty of Waitangi in relation to the Māori
Language.
You will also complete a case study on the Māori Language Act 1987
(which was fundamental to the enactment of the Māori Language Act
2016). As part of the case study you will learn about:
• reasons for development of the law
• process involved
• differing viewpoints.
Article 1:
Article 2:
Article 3:
2. What are some of the key problems with the Treaty of Waitangi?
2. What law was made in response to the protests? What did the law establish?
Check Your Describe each of the three ways that the Treaty of
Understanding Waitangi is involved in the law making process.
In 1987, the Māori Language Act was established. This Act gives
the Māori Language (te reo Māori) official language status in New
Zealand, equal to English. It also created the Māori Language
Commission. This Commission has the role to promote the Māori
language throughout New Zealand.
This law has since been replaced by the Māori Language Act 2016,
which focuses on further developing the status the Māori Language.
It is important to analyse the formation of the Māori Language Act
1987 as this Act was essential to the development of the Māori
Language Act 2016.
Process of development
There are a number of key steps that led to the development of the
Māori Language Act 1987. These include:
Protest and
changing
attitudes
Claim with
the Waitangi
Tribunal
Government
decision
to make
legislation
Bill becomes
law
Area Summary
Reasons or
need for the
law
Key features
or steps
involved in the
creation of the
law
People or
organisations
involved in the
creation of the
law
Differing viewpoints
University of Otago
‘In recognition of the status of te reo Māori as a taonga
(treasure) protected under the Treaty of Waitangi, and within the
spirit of the Māori Language Act 1987, the University of Otago
will endorse the right of students and staff to use te reo Māori,
including for assessment.’19
Name of agent What effect do they think the law change could have?
Pita Sharples
Professor
Ghil’ad
Zuckermann
University of
Otago
LESSON 4:
Law from
religion
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you will learn about law from religion. By the end of
the lesson, you will be able to explain:
what law from religion is
the impact of religion in New Zealand in relation to the law.
You will also complete a case study on religion in relation to marriage
law. As part of the case study you will learn about:
• Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
• reasons for change
• process involved
• differing viewpoints.
The laws of all societies are influenced by the religions that the
society follows or has followed in the past.
Māori Spirituality
To a lesser extent, New Zealand law has also
been influenced by traditional Māori religion and
spirituality. For example, according to the Resource
Management Act 1991, Māori spiritual concerns
must be taken into account in certain situations.
In this section, you will learn how religion has been involved in the
formation of marriage law. In particular, you will look at the role that
religion played in the creation of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage)
Act 2013.
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, they are no longer two, but one.
“that at the beginning the Creator Therefore what God has joined
‘made them male and female,’ together, let man not separate”.
and said, ‘For this reason a man
will leave his father and mother
Matthew 19:4-6
and be united to his wife, and the
two will become one flesh’ ? So
“.... each man should have his own him alone but also to his wife. Do not
wife, and each woman her own deprive each other except by mutual
husband. The husband should fulfil his consent and for a time, so that you
marital duty to his wife, and likewise may devote yourselves to prayer.”
the wife to her husband. The wife’s
body does not belong to her alone but 1 Corinthians 7: 1-4
also to her husband. In the same way,
the husband’s body does not belong to
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as
is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love
your wives and do not be harsh with
them.”
“Marriage should be honoured by all,
and the marriage bed kept pure, for
Colossians 3:18-19
God will judge the adulterer and all
the sexually immoral.”
Hebrews 13: 4- 7
Process followed
The process to change the law was the same as any other law
amendment process in New Zealand. First, the Bill had to be drawn
from the ballot, then it had to go through the parliamentary process
of three readings, a Select Committee stage, and royal assent.
The key difference for this law was the public interest in the
amendment. Normally, laws pass through Parliament with only
key stakeholders commenting. This law, however, was different.
Because marriage is based on religion and tradition, many people in
society had an opinion on the change in definition.
One key step in the process was the Select Committee stage.
During the Select Committee stage 21,533 individual submissions
were received. 220 people gave oral submissions in front the Select
Committee. According to Chris Auchinvole from the National Party,
submissions had three main themes.
1. The new law would be disastrous to society. It would start a
slippery slope and would affect all aspects of New Zealand
society.
2. The new law interferes with religion. Many marriage celebrants
expressed concern at being forced to perform marriages for
same-sex couples, even if this was against their personal
morals.
3. Marriage is an institution that is always changing to reflect
society. Allowing same-sex marriage is a necessary change to
reflect society’s current values and human rights.20
Another key step in the process was in relation to the actions
of various lobby and religious groups. Many groups tried to get
the public to support their viewpoint on the bill. For example,
the conservative Christian group ‘Family First New Zealand’ sent
brochures to the New Zealand public highlighting the possible
negative effects of allowing same-sex marriage. Many press
releases were also made by the group. Groups that were pro same-
sex marriage also made press releases informing the public why
same-sex marriage should be legalised.
It is important to note that the change in law was a conscience
vote for many Members of Parliament. A conscience vote occurs
when Members of Parliament make a personal decision based on
their own beliefs and morals. They did not have to follow the official
policies of the political party that they belong to. This meant that
lobby groups and the New Zealand public could target specific
Members of Parliament in order to try to get them to change their
vote.
Differing viewpoints
Many lobby groups from around New Zealand had strong opinions
on the legislative change.
Family First New Zealand, a conservative Christian lobby group,
strongly opposed the changing of the definition of marriage. Bob
McCoskrie, the director of Family First, stated the following:
The lobby group Marriage Equality, formed from various pro same-
sex marriage organisations throughout New Zealand, had the
opposite opinion. They believed that it was extremely important for
the definition of marriage to change to include same-sex partners.
Name of agent What effect do they think the law change could have?
Louisa Wall
MP for Labour
Tim MacIndoe
MP for National
Family First NZ
Lobby group
Marriage
Equality
Lobby group
Glossary
adulterous a sexual relationship between a person who is married and a person who
is not their spouse
alienated transfer ownership of property to another person or group
amicable friendly
analysis examination, research
ballot the act or process of voting
claimant a person or organisation who makes a claim
commissions a group of people entrusted by a government or other official body with
authority to do something
confiscated taken away
consent giving approval
Crown Entity an organisation that is operated by the government
dominant having power to influence others
dubious not to be relied upon, suspect
extinction reduced to zero
founding first, original
grievance a complaint
heterosexual a person who is sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex
legislative legal
LGBT acronym for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender
lobby to influence a law maker
Members of a person who represents Parliament
Parliament
neutral having no opinion
nullity void, of no importance
ratified make officially valid
referendum a general vote by the public on a single political question
secular not connected with religion or spiritual matters
solemnise perform a ceremony for marriage
Supplementary proposed changes to a bill
Order Papers
te reo Māori the Māori language
tikanga Māori law and custom
validity having basic logic
voluntary done by a person’s own freewill
References
Websites and court cases referred to in the text are included below.
Some websites may not be accessible at the time of publishing.
Why Marriage?
24
http://www.marriageequality.co.nz/why-marriage.html
www.instant.org.nz