Separation of powers in New Zealand is generally effective and respected in practice. Both the judiciary and the legal profession fulfil their duties in an ethical manner free from interference.
This provides the public with effective access to justice. However, changes to the legislation regulating judges and lawyers proposed in June 2003 will require careful consideration in order to safeguard independence and to maintain standards of conduct. While New Zealand has had a domestic bill of rights since 1990, its present constitutional status does not prevent Parliament from passing laws that are inconsistent with enumerated fundamental freedoms, for instance in recent counter-terrorism legislation.
New Zealand-Attacks on Justice 2005-Publications-2008 (full text, PDF)