New Zealand’s Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier released on Monday a report identifying breaches of the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Auckland Prison. The report follows an eight-day unannounced inspection of Auckland Prison, the country’s only maximum-security facility, which took place between January and February. Boshier wrote the report [...]

New Zealand’s Director of Human Rights Proceedings, Michael Timmins, announced Sunday that the parties to a sexual harassment proceeding have reached a settlement recognizing the right of all workers to a workplace that is free from sexual harassment. Although most details of the settlement are confidential, Timmins said in a press release that a female [...]

A group of more than 350 electors filed suit against the Electoral Commission in the High Court of New Zealand Sunday seeking to have the results of the country’s recent cannabis referendum dismissed. In October, 50.7 percent of New Zealand voters responded “No” to the cannabis referendum question “Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation [...]

The New Zealand government is set to strengthen the country’s hate speech and counter-terrorism laws following the release Monday of a Royal Commission of Inquiry’s report on the March 2019 Christchurch terror attack. The commission was tasked in March 2019 with investigating the terror attack at a Christchurch mosque, which resulted in 51 fatalities. The [...]

The New Zealand Parliament passed new legislation Tuesday to allow drug and substance testing services to operate legally over the summer festival season. The Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill was passed by a majority of 86-33. The bill will amend the existing Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (the 1975 Act) and the Psychoactive Substances Act [...]

The New Zealand Law Commission recommended a new legal framework for police use of DNA in criminal investigations in a new 572-page report released Monday. The Commission, an independent Crown entity, reviewed and reported on the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995 following a government request in July 2016. Its review found that the Act [...]

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Australian government “welcomed” a recommendation from the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (the Committee) Thursday to create a single family court structure for the country. The Committee conducted a 12-month inquiry on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019 and the Federal Circuit and Family Court [...]