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Overview

The theoretical underpinnings of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, its equivalents in other countries, and how it has affected the framework of law making and judicial decision-making.

Recent years have seen something of a "rights" explosion take place around the globe. New Zealand has participated in this development through the enactment of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA). This paper examines the issues that flow from this decision.

About this paper

Paper title Bill of Rights - Theory and Practice
Subject Law
EFTS 0.1
Points 15 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2026 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $820.40
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
LAWS 201 and 66 further LAWS points
Pre or Corequisite
Any 200-level LAWS paper not already passed
Limited to
LLB, LLB(Hons)
Notes
May not be credited together with LAWS482 passed in 2007-2014.
Contact
law@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff

To be confirmed when paper is next offered.

Textbooks
Course materials are provided by the Faculty.
Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will gain an understanding of:

  • The jurisprudential and international law background to the NZBORA
  • How the NZBORA actually operates as a legal instrument
  • How the NZBORA has altered and is continuing to alter New Zealand's constitutional processes and practices
  • An understanding of the consequences of breaching the NZBORA

Students will be able to make an informed judgement of the value of including a rights instrument such as the NZBORA in New Zealand's legal system.

Overview

The theoretical underpinnings of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, its equivalents in other countries, and how it has affected the framework of law making and judicial decision-making.

Recent years have seen something of a "rights" explosion take place around the globe. New Zealand has participated in this development through the enactment of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA). This paper examines the issues that flow from this decision.

About this paper

Paper title Bill of Rights - Theory and Practice
Subject Law
EFTS 0.1125
Points 15 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2027 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
LAWS 201 and 66 further LAWS points
Pre or Corequisite
Any 200-level LAWS paper not already passed
Limited to
LLB, LLB(Hons)
Notes
May not be credited together with LAWS482 passed in 2007-2014.
Contact
law@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff

To be confirmed when paper is next offered.

Textbooks

All course readings for this paper are provided by the Faculty on Aoroa.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will gain an understanding of:

  • The jurisprudential and international law background to the NZBORA
  • How the NZBORA actually operates as a legal instrument
  • How the NZBORA has altered and is continuing to alter New Zealand's constitutional processes and practices
  • An understanding of the consequences of breaching the NZBORA

Students will be able to make an informed judgement of the value of including a rights instrument such as the NZBORA in New Zealand's legal system.

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