Te Ao Māori and Tikanga Māori
Incorporating Tikanga Māori in the LLB degree
After consulting stakeholders, the New Zealand Council of Legal Education has decided to amend the regulations prescribing the content of the LLB degree in New Zealand to include teaching and assessment of Tikanga Māori|Māori laws and philosophy. The Minister of Justice has approved this amendment.
From 1 January 2025 the requirements below will be progressively introduced:
- The LLB degree will include teaching and assessment of the general principles and practices of Tikanga Māori|Māori laws and philosophy relevant to each of the core subjects and Legal Ethics; and
- Tikanga Māori|Māori laws and philosophy will be taught in its own right as a new compulsory subject for the LLB degree.
The Council has appointed moderators (Mataanuku Mahuika, Dr Rawinia Higgins, Dr Rangi Mataamua and Deputy Chief Judge Caren Fox) who are working with Maori legal academics and the law schools on the specification for the content of the new Tikanga Maori course, and the integration of content relevant to the other core subjects.
Further updates will be posted here.
Fee Updates
Effective 1 February 2023 the New Zealand Council of Legal Education will increase fees. The Council is increasing fees to account for the increased administrative and operational costs to process and assess each application/assessment. Please refer to our what's new tab for more information.
Work of the Council
The Council is an independent statutory body. The general activities of the Council concern public interest and regulatory matters and centre on the Council's responsibilities for the quality and provision of education and practical legal training that is required to be undertaken by any person either within New Zealand or from overseas wishing to be admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
These general activities include:
- Defining and prescribing courses of study for the examination and practical legal training of persons wishing to be admitted as barristers and solicitors in New Zealand
- Arranging for the provision of those courses of study
- Arranging for the moderation and assessment of those courses of study
- Delivery of practical legal training
- Assessment of qualifications particularly those of overseas law graduates and legal practitioners wishing to practise in New Zealand
- Arranging for the provision of research as necessary, and tendering advice on legal education
- Administering and conducting certain examinations required to be taken by some overseas and other applicants.
Completion certificates
Processing time
Please allow for 6 to 8 weeks (up to 40 working days) processing time from the date your application is received by the Council. All applications received will be processed as soon as possible, but we cannot guarantee the date of receipt of your certificate. Please do not contact the council to enquire about the status of your application as this causes further delays.
Courier
If you would like to send your application in as a physical copy, please be aware that we can ONLY receive physical applications via our P.O. Box 5671 Wellington. If you use a courier for this please ensure the courier you make use of is able to deliver to a PO Box.
Please ensure that you address your application to the Completion Certificate Division.
NZ Law Graduates only
Email application process - NZ Law Graduates Only
In the event you require a fast-tracked completion certificate application, please email completioncertificatesnz@nzcle.org.nz. When sending applications to this email, please note that you will not receive a reply to any queries sent with your application. All queries should be directed to operations@nzcle.org.nz.
Fast-track fee - NZ Law Graduates Only
In the event you require a fast-tracked completion certificate application, please email completioncertificatesnz@nzcle.org.nz. Your certificate should be dispatched within 8 working days from the date we receive the application, granted that payment and all correct documentation is received. The fast-track fee is $200 (including GST) and is in addition to the standard fee of $189.75 (including GST). Note the fast-track timeframe of 8 working days is not a guarantee as we rely on external organisations and institutions to verify your supporting documentation.
NZLP Examination
New Zealand sitting only
The next two sittings for the NZLP examination will take place on 18 and 19 July 2023 and 14 and 15 November 2023.
The New Zealand examination will be sat at the University law faculties.
NZLPE Application Form NZ Sitting July 2023
For enrolments and administrative enquiries please contact the Examination Administrator Breid Keating at NZLPexam@nzcle.org.nz. For academic inquiries please contact the Academic Co-ordinator Professor Catherine Iorns Magallanes at Catherine.Iorns@vuw.ac.nz. For all other enquiries please contact operations@nzcle.org.nz.
Enrolment closes on 23 June 2023.
Please refer to the Law Practice Exam tab for more.
Overseas sitting only
No overseas sitting will be held in 2023, however the Council may allow each applicant to sit the NZLP examination in their home country provided they can satisfy the necessary requirements.
The next sitting for the NZLP examination will take place on 18 and 19 July 2023 and 14 and 15 November 2023.
Each applicant needs to arrange a suitable venue and independent invigilator at their own cost. Preferable venues are:
- Education institution
- Consulate
- Business advisory Council New Zealand
- New Zealand Embassy
Refer to the Law Practice Exam tab for more details on the overseas venue process.
Please note the NZLP Examinations are held in accordance with the Conduct of the New Zealand Law and Practice Examination Regulations 1996. The regulations can be found on our website www.nzcle.org.nz under the header "About Us".
NZLPE Application Form Overseas Sitting July 2023
For enrolments and administrative enquiries please contact the Examination Administrator Breid Keating at NZLPexam@nzcle.org.nz. For academic inquiries please contact the Academic Co-ordinator Professor Catherine Iorns Magallanes at Catherine.Iorns@vuw.ac.nz. For all other enquiries please contact operations@nzcle.org.nz
Each application venue will be considered individually, and you will be advised of our decision within 10 working days from receipt of application. The Council may decline to approve any venue at its discretion.
Enrolment closes on 9 June 2023.
Please refer to the Law Practice Exam tab for more.
