Our advocacy team makes regular submissions before Select Committees on feminist legal issues.

If you are interested in getting involved with our advocacy work, please contact our Advocacy Manager, Rebecca D’Silva, at advocacy.nzwlj@gmail.com.

Examples of our previous submissions are linked below.

October 2023: Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill

In October 2023, the Journal made submissions on the proposed incorporation of s 39A in the Family Proceeding Act 1980.

Section 39A provides that an application for an order dissolving a marriage or civil union may be made on the ground that a party to the marriage or civil union has been the victim of family violence inflicted by the other party. The provision expressly removes the requirement that parties to the marriage or civil union live apart for two years for this ground to be established.

The Journal supports the incorporation of the provision but recommends changes to the terminology and clarification of the grounds and challenges to an application under s 39A, particularly in respect of temporary protection orders, to ensure the gendered dimensions of family violence are addressed, acknowledging that the Bill is merely one mechanism for addressing family violence, which remains a complex and multi-faceted issue.

A copy of our submissions can be found here.

October 2023: Victims of Family Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Bill

The Journal made submissions in support of the Bill in October 2023. The Bill aimed to strengthen the courts’ statutory powers to protect victims of litigation abuse in family proceedings.  The Journal made positive submissions in support of the overall policy objective, citing the recently published article in the Journal by Dr Bridgette Toy-Cronin entitled “Responding to abusive litigation: Short v Short.”  Dr Toy-Cronin’s article was an in-depth analysis of how the court should respond to intimate partner violence, and how court processes can be used as a tool of abuse.

The Journal submitted that the Bill appropriately recognised that abusive litigation is distinct from more general claims of vexatious litigation, and any measures that the Bill could take to reduce those effects are worthwhile.

A copy of our submissions are linked here.

October 2023:  Submissions on the Victims of Sexual Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Bill

In October 2023, the Journal provided submissions in support of the Victims of Sexual Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Bill.  The Bill aims to reduce the harm experienced by complainants of sexual violence participating in court proceedings.  It proposes to amend ss 201 and 203 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, which automatically suppress the identities of defendants and complainants, respectively, in specified sexual cases.  The amendments impose a mandatory consideration on courts when considering whether to make an order permitting publication of a defendant or complainant’s identity:  the court must take into account any views of the complainant.

The Journal strongly supports these amendments, and its submissions therefore recommend clarification of certain matters to ensure the Bill’s purpose is achieved:  the weight to be given to complainants’ views, how publication is to be determined where there are competing interests of multiple complainants and who is responsible for ascertaining complainants’ views. 

See a copy of our submissions here.

August 2023: Letter in support of repeal of section 19 of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003

In August 2023 the Journal wrote to the Minister for Women, Jan Tinetti, in support of repeal of s 19 of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003.

Section 19 of the Act prevents visas being granted to any person on the basis that the person has provided or intends to provide commercial sexual services. Holders of a temporary entry class visa also cannot provide commercial sexual services while in New Zealand and may be deported on that basis. The Journal supports the proposal for repeal of s 19 on the basis it facilitates conditions conducive to exploitation of migrant sex workers, is not fit for purpose and the risk of sex trafficking can be addressed in other (better) ways. The Journal has also previously published an article on section 19 of the Act. In 2019, Kade Cory-Wright wrote a commentary titled “Sex work in New Zealand: a case for repeal of section 19 of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003”. Read Kade’s article here.

See a copy of our letter here.

May 2023: Submissions on NZLS Independent Review

In May 2023, the Journal gave feedback on the NZLS Independent Review Panel’s Report. This feedback builds on the Journal’s earlier submissions in August 2022.

The feedback responds to two areas of the report: a reformed complaints system and cultural challenges: improving diversity, inclusion, conduct and mental health. The Journal tautoko the observations made in the report on these two topics and makes a number of recommendations in respect of each which the Journal considers require continued focus.

See a copy of our submissions here.

2022 Submissions

2020 Submissions

Previous Co-Editor-in-Chief, Josie Te Rata, signed an open letter on behalf of the Journal in support of the Abortion Legislation Bill. 35 organisations have currently signed the letter which was sent to all Parliamentarians.

See the letter here.

On 18 March 2020 the Abortion Legislation Bill passed into law, de-criminalising abortion in Aotearoa.

2019: Purea Nei - Changing the Culture of the Legal Profession

The research report resulted from a project engaging people of all genders in the legal profession in New Zealand about issues such as workplace expectations and culture, diversity and inclusion, sexual harassment, bullying, gender inequality, training and education, leadership, management, remuneration, the future of work and several other employment related issues.

The lead investigators are Ana Lenard, Allanah Colley and Bridget McLay from the Journal. They collected a breadth of experience, ideas and practical tips and tools from over 700 people who participated in this research.

Purea Nei means to cleanse and renew and the researchers state “we hope that this document provides a useful springboard for workplace, and broader, conversations about how we can improve the culture of the legal profession.”

Research Report: Purea Nei —  Changing the Culture of the Legal Profession

Link to video of launch of Purea Nei report and panel discussion —  26 February 2020

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