The legal collection provides an introduction to New Zealand law and the New Zealand legal system with a wide range of law books and legal resources. The library holds comprehensive sets of contemporary parliamentary bills, statutes and acts, and a selection of legal commentaries, law reports and case law. We also subscribe to a variety of legal journals.
Law books
An extensive collection of books dealing with the New Zealand legal system, the laws of New Zealand and specialist legal issues are available from the library.
Legislation
The first floor of the Central City Library holds current sets of the following legislation:
- New Zealand Statutes or Acts of Parliament
- New Zealand Parliamentary Bills
- Reprinted Statutes
- Advanced Annotations
- Statutory Regulations
- Tables of New Zealand Acts and Ordinances and Statutory Regulations in force
- Index to New Zealand Statutes
A partial collection of out of date and historic legislation is available at the Auckland Research Centre, on the second floor of the Central City Library.
Legislation can also be found in
Knowledge Basket Legislation New Zealand, and
Knowledge Basket Hansard in our Digital Library.
Case law
The Central City Library holds a number of publications dealing with New Zealand case law.
Full case reports
New Zealand law reports publishes selected cases determined by the judicial committee of the Privy Council, Court of Appeal and the High Court. The library holds from 1883 onwards.
District court reports covers a wide range of district court cases including civil and criminal cases. We hold from 1989 onwards.
New Zealand administrative reports provides reports on the decisions of the Accident Compensation Corporation Appeal Authority, Commerce Commission, Copyrighting Tribunal, Indecent Publications Tribunal, Legal Aid Appeal Authority, Licensing Control Commission, Overtime and Shift-work Recognition Authority, Social Security Appeal Authority, Appeals to the Supreme Court [Administrative Division]. The library holds from 1976 onwards.
Case law digests
New Zealand case law digest summarises a collection of important decisions of New Zealand courts, tribunals and other administrative and regulatory bodies. The library holds from 1983 onwards.
Butterworths current law consolidates unreported decisions of the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The library holds from 1979 onwards.
Recent additions to the case law collection are available on the first floor of the Central City Library. Older material is kept in the basement and must be asked for at the enquiries desk.
Legal commentaries
Laws of New Zealand is a multi-volume encyclopaedia that contains booklets on legal topics. Each topic has an essay explaining the main points and details of relevant cases and legislation. This is an excellent place to start research on a specific legal topic or find a concise statement on a particular area of law.
Loose leaf commentaries
New Zealand forms and precedents provide a commentary on legal topics and a basic precedent for every legal document a practitioner may draft.
Sim's court practice deals with the law relating to the practise of the High Court, the court of Appeal, and the Privy Council. It contains:
- Judicature Acts with commentary
- High Court Rules with commentary
- Court of Appeal Rules with commentary
- Privy Council Rules with commentary
- Miscellaneous Acts and Rules
- Appendix of Injunctions
District court practice: civil jurisdiction provides a guide to the working of the District Court’s civil jurisdiction. In addition to the annotated text of the District Courts Act 1947 and the District Court Rules 1992, the work contains appendices dealing with organising and presenting a plaintiff’s case in the District Court, debt recovery and enforcement of judgments in the District Court.
Law journals
The following journals are available in print at the Central City Library.
The latest issues of many journals are on display on the first floor. Other copies are located in the basement and can be asked for at the enquiries desk.
Articles from law journals can also be found in our
Digital Library.