New Zealand Law Society - Human Rights and Privacy Committee

Human Rights and Privacy Committee

The Human Rights and Privacy Committee monitors compliance with domestic and international human rights standards and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, and makes submissions on human rights and privacy issues.

About us

The Human Rights and Privacy Committee was initially established as a sub-committee to the NZLS LAWASIA IBA committee, and its principal concern was monitoring human rights issues affecting lawyers (and their clients) and judges.

The sub-committee became the NZLS Human Rights Committee in 1998 and its role was expanded to include privacy matters in 2010.

Our people

Paul Rishworth KC is the committee convenor. His expertise is in public law, including judicial review, human rights and anti-discrimination law, education law, South Pacific constitutional law, Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and Human Rights Act 1993, legislative drafting and statutory interpretation. His work on the New Zealand Bill of Rights has been widely cited by peers, practitioners and judges, and he has provided advice on issues ranging from restrictions on hate speech to the autonomy of religious organisations to hire and ordain leaders.

Paul is ably supported by the members of the committee:

  • Andrew Butler
  • Juliet Philpott
  • Greg Robins
  • Nicola Manning
  • Thomas Harre
  • Monique van Alphen Fyfe
  • Louisa Joblin
  • Bronagh McKenna
  • Anna Crowe

For queries relating to this committee, please email our Senior Law Reform & Advocacy Advisor, Claire Browning: claire.browning@lawsociety.org.nz

For media enquiries, please contact media@lawsociety.org.nz

Terms of reference