Policy and legislation development

Overview

Everybody might be able to recognise it, but can they create it?  We have the necessary legal and drafting skills and experience to help you create good legislation.

When legislative change is necessary, it is important that legal advisers with the appropriate skill and experience are involved from an early stage.

Our lawyers provide a full service to government departments and other organisations that are developing policy proposals that will lead to legislation.  We can provide specialist commercial legal expertise to assist in the development of regulatory and policy frameworks.  Our team includes lawyers with many years of government experience, including extensive experience in the preparation and passing of complex legislation.

We are able to support the policy process from the early conceptual stages right through to enactment of legislation and preparation of regulations and other statutory instruments.  We work closely with policy advisers, in-house lawyers and the Parliamentary Counsel Office.  We also offer training and development opportunities to departmental lawyers who work with us on major projects.



Work highlights

Advising the Transition Unit in DPMC and interim Health New Zealand

on the health reforms and the Bill that became the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, which established Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority, and disestablished DHBs and the Health Promotion Agency

Acting as primary legal adviser to the Electricity Authority (and its predecessor, the Electricity Commission)

Recent work includes advice on the design and implementation of a system of locational hedges to manage transmission pricing risk in the wholesale electricity market

Advising on the preparation

of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Act 2012, Building Act 2004, Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2002, Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001, Accident Insurance Amendment Act 2001 and Fisheries Amendment Act 2001

Assisting Payments NZ

with drafting of the rules governing the payments system in New Zealand

Drafting amendments

to the Maritime Rules and Marine Protection Rules for Maritime New Zealand

Assisting the Electricity Authority and Ministry of Economic Development (now the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)

by drafting the Electricity Industry Participation Code under the Electricity Industry Act


Our team

Alastair Hercus

Partner, Wellington

Alastair specialises in public and commercial law. He advises clients on legislative design, decision making by statutory bodies…

Email Alastair Hercus

Natasha Wilson

Partner, Wellington

Natasha is a member of our public law team in Wellington, and has extensive experience in the health, education, and science and…

Email Natasha Wilson

Susie Kilty

Partner, Wellington

Susie specialises in competition, fair trading, overseas investment consents and economic regulation, particularly of infrastructure in…

Email Susie Kilty