Powers of the State

Key statutes

  • Search and Surveillance Act 2012
  • Courts Security Act 1999
  • Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013
  • Imperial Laws Application Act 1988 (Magna Carta)
  • New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
  • COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (Administered by the Ministry of Health)

Key secondary legislation

  • Search and Surveillance (Transitional Provision) Regulations 2012          
  • Courts Security Regulations 2019                                      
  • Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Amendment Regulations 2020
  • Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Regulations 2018

Information/links to recent or currently underway reviews

  • Search and Surveillance Act 2012: See Criminal justice and victims - investigations
  • Court Security Act 1999: Changes to the powers of court security guards in the Courts Security Act were put in place (as amended by the Courts Matters Act 2018 and the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018).
  • The Courts Security Regulations 2019 (which set out the tribunals to which the Courts Security Act applies) came into force on 25 March 2019
  • Bill of Rights Act 1990: See Constitutional - human rights (domestic)

Forward work

  • COVID-19 Public health Response Act 2020: Under section 9(1)(c)(i) of the Act the COVID-19 Response Minister must consult with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Health before making a COVID-19 order.
  • Search and Surveillance Act 2012: link to Criminal justice and victims - investigation
  • Bill of Rights Act 1990: link to Constitutional - human rights (domestic)