Southern Cross Chambers members have significant experience in public, administrative and constitutional law and can assist with advice as to rights and remedies.
Public law addresses rights of an individual in his or her dealings with Central Government or with Local Government. That is an extensive involvement ranging through all branches of Governmental activity. Governments and Government departments are not above the law and are answerable for any breach of rights or proper practises. Those rights and practises are addressed in many statutes and Central and Local Government are obliged to comply with those statutes in the same way as any individual.
Remedies are specific and detailed. They can include administrative law remedies, including judicial review under the Judicature Amendment Act 1972 which empowers a High Court to review a statutory decision to determine whether it has been made in accordance with the specific provisions of a statute or regulation and the general principles of law including rights of natural justice. Pleadings can be brought in the Court for such review and, where appropriate, immediate interim relief.
Constitutional law addresses our constitution and the constitutional rights of every New Zealander (and indeed visitors). Our constitution is comprised in various documents, including the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
Members of Southern Cross can explain the source and content of constitutional rights that New Zealanders have, the limitations on those rights and the available remedies to enforce them or to have decisions challenged.
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