Those at Gov't Law Year in Review event at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington on 18 Feb 2026 may find article by Prof Joanna Mossop on High Seas Treaty on Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of interest.
#NZpol #NZcplGovt @greenpeace.org.nz
newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/16/n...
Slide Life in S4 BORA? Brown v NZ Police 2025 NZHC 708 Gang insignia, law unreasonably trenches on free expression etc, and is ICCPR incompatible. Appropriate remedy would be DOI, Declaration of Inconsistency. Dr Andrew Butler KC standing holding microphone. Prof Dean Knight sitting below slide.
Call for Declaration of Inconsistency under NZBORA in case of confiscation of gang insignia.
#NZcplGovt #NZpol
![Compensation related cases for NZBORA
Morrison [2025] NZCA 240 fair trial, non disclosure, delay. Other cases.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z6vwx4anwlfcznka7duwagpq/bafkreicyusrfksjlidq3mu4ceyelb3iypj22qwqzmlgygqrcsdx7mxjsfy)
Compensation related cases for NZBORA Morrison [2025] NZCA 240 fair trial, non disclosure, delay. Other cases.
Compensation should always be considered as part of a remedy under NZ Bill Of Rights Act
#NZcplGovt
![Slide Pengelly [ 2025 ] NZCA 461 on discretion on applying standard conditions](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z6vwx4anwlfcznka7duwagpq/bafkreidt4vn6xm4dt6dlmnlerrx2bca67uqgwqtw64iw5a6y2lksxv4dzm)
Slide Pengelly [ 2025 ] NZCA 461 on discretion on applying standard conditions
Application of parole conditions must be appropriate, not just applied because it's standard. For example, if offense has nothing to do with children don't impose noncontact with children condition!
#NZcplGovt
Slide on Reasonable limits and the Court's role
Slide with cases on exercise of discretion and of proportionality
Talk by Dr Andrew Butler KC on Cases with NZ Bill of Rights Act issues suggests top matter for consideration is Proportionality!
Talk of case where person with intellectual disability was incarcerated for 18 years when a nondisabled person would at most have been jailed for 3 months
#NZcplGovt
Postgraduate Law courses for Professional Development Trimester 2, 2026 LAWS 543 and LAWS 538 With from right Prof Dean Knight, Dr Marnie Lloydd, and Dr Andrew Butler KC
Upcoming law courses at Victoria University of Wellington that may be of interest, possibly even for nonlawyers!
LAWS 543 and LAWS 538
#NZpol #NZcplGovt
Slide on Ongoing unknowns - Waitangi Tribunal Review, Treaty Clauses review, Specific legislative developments e.g. Scope of new Treaty Clauses in Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill Future legislative, political, constitutional developments more broadly Luke standing beneath slide
Luke refers to Matike Mai and yet to occur Constitutional Reform.
Jason Gough talking. Voice is soft and lots of background noise. Background to Treaty Principles bill and private property law.
#NZcplGovt
Dr Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown VUW Standing beneath slide on Key milestones. Seated to right is Jason Gough from Crown Law Office
Many attacks on Te Tiriti o Waitangi on judicial front in 2025. Treaty Principles Bill failed. Other laws like Regulatory Standards Bill scraped in. Yet to see impact.
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana Customary Marine Title) Amendment Bill narrows scope of law, removing rights.
#NZcplGovt
Miriam on video screen with many books behind her.
Dr Miriam Cullen of University of Copenhagen on issues related to Greenland and Denmark, and wish by USA to "buy" / take over Greenland. History of area includes having US military bases on Greenland for security reasons. Also move in law for Greenlanders to get Home Rule from 2009.
#NZcplGovt
Point raised by Mark Brown of Cook Islands that NZ hasn't notified Cook Islands of its own international security actions. Bilateral doesn't mean one way only. Some other Pacific nations share concerns in part.
#NZcplGovt #NZpol
Recent Cook Islands political actions have included signing more bilateral deal with China, a deal not previously signalled to NZ via MFAT. Clauses 4 and 7 of prior agreement between NZ and Cook Islands imply Cook Islands should have notified NZ first. Obligations were ignored.
#NZcplGovt #NZpol
Reference to social media posts on Rise of Fascism in Samoa in talk on constitutional developments is unexpected but social media and personal connections are important in small nations where politicians and parties are closely related.
#NZcplGovt
Panel from right is Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett VUW as Chair, Dr Melee Tupou-Vaitohi VUW on Tonga, Dr Andrew (or Anaru) Erueti Uni of Auckland on Fiji, William Gucake from Whaia Legal on Samoa, and Dr Anna Poles from Massey Uni on Cook Islands. Panel is seated below slide.
Panel speaking on Comparative constitutional development in the Pacific, where a number of nations have been reviewing or amending their own constitutions.
#NZcplGovt
Slide shows Summary, Evidence or Justifications, Public contracting, Remedies. Kay's view - Contracting is relevant in that delegations may not empower contractors unless specifically done, especially over consultations. Potential for more challenges.
Dr Eddie Clark concludes his summary (see image) and hands over to Nicholas Anderson of Crown Law Office who thanks judiciary for clarifying and strengthening law.
#NZcplGovt #NZpol
More Judicial decisions including PATHA Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa NZ vs Minister of Health. Dr Clark standing beneath slide.
More decisions including PATHA vs Minister of Heath.
#NZcplGovt 2026, #NZpol
Slide summarizing some High Court rulings including wins by EDI on environmental cases where purpose of law matters. Lawyers for Climate Action lost as evidence not close enough to case. Dr Eddie Clark standing beneath slide.
Dr Eddie Clark summarizing significant Judicial Decisions. Even if challenge not upheld a case may include important discussions. Successes by Environmental Defense noted.
#NZcplGovt 2026 #NZpol
Link to Government Law in Review programme
#NZcplGovt 2026
may interest #NZpol followers too
www.wgtn.ac.nz/public-law/e...
Programme from 10.50am to 4.45pm, also available online
Programme for 2026 Government Law - Year in Review.
International insights will beam in over video, including appalling transphobic decision from UK, Woman Scotland challenge against trans women on boards. Dr Senthorun Raj speaking on case and flow on effects. Ref to Goodwin case
#NZcplGovt #NZpol
Value of international law processes isn't just the final agreement and eventual implementation but also sharing of views and knowledge and areas of agreements.
Ref to speech by Mark Carney at Davos. Issues are bigger than any one country.
#NZcplGovt #nzpol
Background to Marine Biodiversity Jurisdidiction talk includes international Law of the Sea. Talk now going to Ratifications and implantation. Russia opposed. NZ has endorsed and will ratify at some stage but will need law changes for full compliance.
#NZcplGovt #NZpol
www.imo.org/en/ourwork/l...
Details about UN General Assembly authorizing negotiations on developing a binding agreement on conservation and sustainability of Marine Biodiversity.
More on Biodiversity Jurisdiction BBNJ at #nzcplgovt 2026.
Also relevant to #nzpol and to Shane Jones wishes to exploit NZ sea resources @pezmico.mastodon.nz.ap.brid.gy
Our keynote address is from Prof Joanna Mossop on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty
β implications for Aotearoa New Zealand and the international legal
order #nzcplgovt
Dr Marnie Lloyd and Dr Dean Night standing beneath Government Law slide. professor Joanna Mossop seated, ready to talk on biodiversity law and growing impacts on marine environment. Exploitation a factor in decline of marine life. Overfishing bad but less than climate change, acidification, and pollution. Ocean governance frameworks are weak and no connected regimes to manage impacts
Looking forward to enlightenment or darkening on Government Law - Year in Review, both internationally and in Aotearoa.
1st talk on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction by Prof Joanna Mossop
#NZcplGovt
www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/2026-gover...
MFAT Legal Division slide referring to international treaty work. Standing beneath is Carl Reach from MFAT, a man in a suit.
More on international law and treaty discussions on issues like #SeaLevelRise in Pacific. 2024 has also been busy with sanctions against those supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. #nzcplgovt #NZpol
Dr Marnie Lloyd at desk talking. Other speakers Dr Matthew Castle and Carl Reach from MFAT are seated.
Reflections on international law activities in 2024: lots of conflict, lots of legal challenges, and general frustration that laws aren't stopping violence or subsequent actions. More action on nonviolent areas like plastics bans and environment agreements on #ClimateChange. #nzcplgovt
Slide on procedural obligations
Quickfire slide on cases coming up on NZBORA
More on NZBORA #nzcplgovt
Missed slide...
Slide Smith v AG: Positive obligations Ref to duty as with Climate Change Response Act
Slide on Scope of Rights in NZBORA cases and obligations
Challenges on Crown action or inactions relating to positive obligations under NZBORA #nzcplgovt Where an act exists like Climate Change Response Act what are duties of Crown or govt? When has it failed? If timeframe is long judgment may be that it hasn't failed yet.
