Criminal Cases Review Commission Act 2019

1: Title
This Act is the Criminal Cases Review Commission Act 2019.
2: Commencement
1: This Act comes into force on a date appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council, and 1 or more Orders in Council may be made bringing different provisions into force on different dates.
2: To the extent that it is not previously brought into force under subsection (1), the rest of this Act comes into force on 1 July 2020.
3: An order under this section is secondary legislation ( see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 2(1) brought into force 3 April 2020 clause 2 Criminal Cases Review Commission Act Commencement Order 2020 Section 2(3) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
1: Preliminary provisions
3: Purpose of this Act
The purpose of this Act is to establish an independent body to investigate and review criminal convictions and sentences and decide whether to refer them under the Act to an appeal court.
4: Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— appeal court section 18 Chief Commissioner section 9 Commission section 7 Deputy Chief Commissioner section 9 eligible person information responsible Minister sentence section 212 specialist adviser section 10
5: Transitional, savings, and related provisions
The transitional, savings, and related provisions set out in Schedule 1
6: Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown.
2: Criminal Cases Review Commission
1: Establishment and appointments
7: Criminal Cases Review Commission established
The Criminal Cases Review Commission is established.
8: Commission is Crown entity
1: The Commission is a Crown entity for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004
2: The Crown Entities Act 2004
3: See subpart 7 Crown Entities Act 2004
9: Membership of Commission
1: The Commission must have the following members:
a: a Chief Commissioner:
b: a Deputy Chief Commissioner:
c: at least 1 and not more than 5 other Commissioners.
2: At least 1 member must have knowledge or understanding of te ao Māori and tikanga Māori.
3: At least one-third of the members must be legally qualified.
4: At least two-thirds of the members must have experience in working in the criminal justice system or have other knowledge or expertise relevant to the Commission’s functions and duties, which may include experience, knowledge, or expertise acquired overseas.
5: A person is legally qualified
a: has held a practising certificate as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor for not less than 7 years; or
b: has been admitted as a barrister, solicitor, barrister and solicitor, advocate, or attorney by a senior court in another country and has practised as such in that country for not less than 7 years.
10: Specialist advisers
1: The Commission may appoint qualified persons, as required, to assist the Commission with any of its functions or duties by giving advice in relation to cultural, scientific, technical, or other matters involving particular expertise.
2: A specialist adviser is subject to the same obligations of confidentiality as members and employees of the Commission under section 35
3: Advice given by a specialist adviser is information provided to the Commission for the purposes of sections 36 37
2: General provisions relating to functions, duties, and powers
11: Primary function
The primary function of the Commission is to investigate and review convictions and sentences and decide whether to refer them to the appeal court under section 17
12: Commission’s power to initiate and conduct inquiries into general matter
1: This section applies if the Commission, in the course of performing its functions and duties under this Act, identifies a practice, policy, procedure, or other matter of a general nature that it considers may be related to cases involving a miscarriage of justice or has the potential to give rise to such cases.
2: The Commission may conduct an inquiry into the matter on its own initiative if it is satisfied that an inquiry is in the public interest.
3: The Commission must provide a written report on the inquiry, including the Commission’s findings and any recommendations it may wish to make, to the Minister of Justice.
4: The Minister of Justice, as soon as practicable after receiving the report, must present it to the House of Representatives.
13: Duty to promote public awareness of functions
The Commission must carry out the activities it considers necessary to make its functions known to, and understood by, the public.
14: Powers of Commission
The Commission has and may exercise all powers necessary for performing its functions and duties.
15: Commission may regulate own procedures
1: Subject to this Act, the Commission may regulate its own procedures for performing its functions and duties as the Commission considers appropriate including, without limitation, its procedures for—
a: obtaining information:
b: conducting interviews or examinations, or taking evidence by other means, including on oath or affirmation:
c: disclosing information obtained in the course of an investigation:
d: giving its opinion to the Minister of Justice under section 29
e: notifying and interacting with victims of crime, where appropriate, when considering a conviction or sentence:
f: handling any complaints to the Commission about its actions, processes, or procedures.
2: The Commission’s powers under this section include, without limitation, the power to specify how a person may make an application to the Commission.
3: The Commission’s procedures must be consistent with the rules of natural justice and the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (te Tiriti o Waitangi).
4: The Commission must make its procedures publicly available, in the manner it considers appropriate.
16: Manner in which Commission must act
The Commission must act independently, impartially, and fairly in performing its functions and duties and exercising its powers under this Act.
3: Commission’s primary function
Key provisions
17: Ground for referring conviction or sentence to appeal court
1: The Commission may refer a conviction or sentence to the appeal court if the Commission, after reviewing the conviction or sentence, considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so.
2: In deciding whether to refer a conviction or sentence, the Commission must have regard to—
a: whether the eligible person has exercised their rights of appeal against the conviction or sentence; and
b: the extent to which the application relates to argument, evidence, information, or a question of law raised or dealt with in proceedings relating to the conviction or sentence; and
c: the prospects of the court allowing the appeal; and
d: any other matter that the Commission considers relevant.
18: Appeal court to which conviction or sentence may be referred
1: The appeal court to which a conviction may be referred is—
a: the High Court, if the eligible person’s right of first appeal against a conviction under subpart 3
b: otherwise, the Court of Appeal.
2: The appeal court to which a sentence may be referred is—
a: the High Court, if the eligible person’s right of first appeal against a sentence under subpart 4
b: otherwise, the Court of Appeal.
19: Commission must give appeal court reasons for referral
The Commission, when referring a conviction or a sentence to the appeal court, must give the court a statement of its reasons for the referral.
20: Hearing and determination of appeal
The appeal court to which the Commission refers a conviction or sentence must hear and determine the matter as if it were a first appeal against the conviction or sentence.
4: Applications to Commission to refer convictions and sentences
Persons who may apply, etc
21: Who may apply
An eligible person or a representative may apply to the Commission for it to refer a conviction or sentence to the appeal court.
22: How application may be made
An application may be made in the manner required by the Commission.
23: Commission may accept application made in representative capacity
The Commission may accept an application made by a person in a representative capacity if the Commission is satisfied that the person is authorised to act as the eligible person’s representative. Commission’s decision-making powers, etc, relating to applications
24: Commission may decide to take no action in relation to application
The Commission may decide to take no action, or take no further action, in relation to an application if—
a: the eligible person no longer wishes the application to proceed; or
b: the eligible person dies; or
c: in the Commission’s opinion, the application is frivolous, vexatious, or otherwise not made in good faith; or
d: for any other reason, the Commission believes that it is unnecessary or inappropriate for it to take any action or further action.
25: Commission may decide to investigate
1: The Commission may decide to investigate the conviction or sentence to which an application relates.
2: See subpart 2 subpart 6
26: Commission must notify its decision on application for referral
1: The Commission must, as soon as practicable after making a decision under section 17 24
a: the eligible person; and
b: if the application was made by a representative on behalf of the eligible person, the representative.
2: The Commission must, as soon as practicable after notifying those persons, make its decision, and the reasons or a summary of the reasons, publicly available in the manner that the Commission considers appropriate. Commission’s power to act on own initiative
27: Commission’s power to make initial inquiries on its own initiative
1: The Commission may make initial inquiries into a conviction or sentence on its own initiative if it is satisfied that those inquiries are in the public interest.
2: As soon as practicable after starting to make any initial inquiries under this section, the Commission must—
a: notify the eligible person that the Commission has started making those inquiries; and
b: ask that person if they consent to the Commission investigating the conviction or sentence as if they had applied to the Commission to refer the conviction or sentence to the appeal court.
3: If the eligible person does not consent, the Commission must not investigate further and cannot exercise its power to refer the conviction or sentence to the appeal court under section 17
4: In this section, initial inquiries sections 32 33
5: Commission’s functions relating to Royal prerogative of mercy
28: Governor-General may transfer applications for exercise of Royal prerogative to Commission
1: The Governor-General may transfer an application for the exercise of the Royal prerogative of mercy to the Commission if the Governor-General considers that the application is sufficiently connected with the Commission’s primary function or would more appropriately be dealt with as part of that function.
2: The Commission must treat an application transferred to it under this section as if it were an application to the Commission made under subpart 4
3: The provisions of this Act apply accordingly.
29: Advisory function in relation to applications for exercise of Royal prerogative of mercy
1: The Minister of Justice may ask the Commission to provide an opinion on any matter arising in relation to the Royal prerogative of mercy.
2: The Commission must provide that opinion, in writing, to the Minister of Justice.
3: The Commission may exercise its powers under this Act, including its investigative powers under subpart 6
30: Exercise of Royal prerogative of mercy not affected
Nothing in this Act limits or affects the Royal prerogative of mercy.
6: Commission’s investigative powers, protection of information gathered, privileged or confidential information, etc
Investigative powers
31: Powers of investigation: general
1: The Commission may investigate a conviction or sentence under this Act as it considers appropriate.
2: In investigating a matter, the Commission may obtain from any person, under sections 32 33
a: has taken reasonable steps to obtain the information by consent; and
b: considers that the information is unlikely to be obtained by the Commission through any means other than under those sections.
3: Subsection (2) does not affect the ability of the Commission to access court documents in accordance with the rules of practice and procedure applying to the relevant court.
32: Commission may require person to give information
1: The Commission may, by written notice, require a person to—
a: produce documents or things that the person may hold and that may be relevant to the investigation:
b: provide information in writing.
2: The Commission may examine and make copies, take photographs, or create other records of documents or things produced or information provided under subsection (1).
3: Subject to sections 38 to 45
33: Commission may require person to give evidence on oath or affirmation
1: The Commission may take evidence from a person by—
a: requiring the person, by written notice, to appear before the Commission to be examined on oath or affirmation:
b: requiring the person, on appearing before the Commission, to answer questions on oath or affirmation:
c: permitting the person to give the evidence by any other means approved by the Commission and requiring the person to verify that evidence on oath or affirmation.
2: Subject to sections 38 to 45
a: appear before the Commission under subsection (1)﻿(a):
b: answer questions under subsection (1)﻿(b):
c: verify evidence given to the Commission under subsection (1)﻿(c). Enforcement orders
34: Court may make orders for failure to comply with requirements
1: The Commission may apply to the District Court for orders against a person on the grounds that they have failed to comply with a requirement under section 32 33
2: The court may, on the application of the Commission, make either or both of the following orders if the court is satisfied that the person has failed to comply with the requirement:
a: an order directing the person to comply with the requirement specified in the notice:
b: any other order that the court considers appropriate.
3: The court may require a person to produce documents or provide other information to the court for the purposes of determining an application under this section.
4: The court may make an order under this section subject to any conditions the court thinks appropriate. Protection of information gathered
35: Prohibition on disclosure of information unless authorised
1: A person who is, or has been, a member or an employee of the Commission, or a person appointed as a specialist adviser to the Commission, must not disclose any information obtained by the Commission unless the disclosure is authorised under section 36
2: A person who wilfully contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
3: This section does not affect an individual’s entitlement to request access to information under information privacy principle 6 set out in section 22 Section 35(3) amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020
36: Authorised disclosures of information
1: The disclosures specified in subsections (2) and (3) are authorised and may be made at the discretion of the Commission and other persons as specified in those provisions.
2: The Commission may disclose information, or a member of the Commission may authorise the disclosure of information, if satisfied that the disclosure is reasonably necessary—
a: for the purposes of a criminal, disciplinary, or civil proceeding; or
b: in order to assist in dealing with any matter relating to the exercise of the Royal prerogative of mercy; or
c: in order to assist in dealing with any official inquiry or review relating to a person’s conviction or sentence or with any official assessment of whether such an inquiry or review is desirable; or
d: as part of a statement or report required to be made or provided under this Act; or
e: in connection with the performance or exercise of the Commission’s functions, duties, or powers; or
f: for the purposes of the Police or any other enforcement authority investigating an offence or deciding whether to prosecute an offence, provided that the disclosure is not, or would not be, prevented by some obligation of secrecy or limitation on disclosure (including an obligation or limitation imposed by an enactment) other than the obligation imposed by section 35
g: in order to prevent or lessen a serious threat (as defined in section 7(1)
i: public health or public safety; or
ii: the life or health of any individual.
3: The Commission may disclose information, or a member of the Commission may authorise the disclosure of information, if a person with the right to consent to disclosure of that information gives that consent.
4: A member or an employee of the Commission, or a specialist adviser to the Commission, may disclose information to any other member or employee of, or specialist adviser to, the Commission, for the purpose of performing their functions or duties or exercising their powers in that capacity. Section 36(2)﻿(g) amended 1 December 2020 section 217 Privacy Act 2020
37: Application of Official Information Act 1982
Nothing in the Official Information Act 1982 Privileged and confidential communications and information
38: Privileged information
1: Nothing in this Act requires a person to disclose to the Commission any communication or information—
a: to which any of the protections of privilege recognised in sections 54 to 60 64
b: where such disclosure is prevented by an enactment, a rule of law, or an order of a court prohibiting or restricting disclosure or the manner of disclosure.
2: Subsection (1) is subject to section 40
3: If a person claims that a communication or information is protected or prevented from disclosure under subsection (1), the Commission may apply to a District Court Judge for any 1 or more of the following orders:
a: an order determining whether the person’s claim is valid:
b: an order for disclosure under section 39
c: an order disallowing the person’s claim under section 40
39: Order for disclosure
If the Judge determines that a communication or information is not protected or prevented from disclosure under section 38(1)
40: Power of Judge to disallow privilege, etc
1: The Judge may, despite determining that a communication or information is protected or prevented from disclosure under section 38(1)
a: that section 67(1)
b: the following criteria apply:
i: evidence of the communication or information is necessary to enable the Commission to decide whether to refer a person’s conviction or sentence to the appeal court under section 17
ii: the importance of the communication or information to the Commission’s decision outweighs the interests that are protected by withholding the communication or information.
2: This section does not apply to a communication or information to which a protection of privilege under section 60 Confidentiality
41: Protection of journalists’ sources
Section 68
a: as if every reference in that section to—
i: a civil or criminal proceeding were a reference to an investigation under this Act; and
ii: a party were a reference to the Commission; and
iii: the Judge were a reference to a Judge of the High Court; and
b: with any other necessary modifications.
42: Overriding discretion as to confidential information
Section 69
a: as if every reference in that section to—
i: a proceeding were a reference to an investigation under this Act; and
ii: the Judge were a reference to a Judge of the District Court; and
b: with any other necessary modifications.
43: Discretion as to matters of State
Section 70
a: as if every reference in that section to—
i: a proceeding were a reference to an investigation under this Act; and
ii: the Judge were a reference to a Judge of the District Court; and
b: with any other necessary modifications.
44: Who may apply for orders or directions under sections 41 to 43
An application for an order under section 41 sections 42 43
45: General powers of Judge for purposes of provisions concerning privilege and confidentiality
1: A Judge may, for the purposes of considering an application or otherwise exercising a power under sections 38 to 43
2: An order, direction, or requirement made or given under subsection (1) or the sections referred to in that provision may be subject to any conditions the Judge thinks appropriate. Protections for holders of privilege and persons required to disclose
46: Claims of privilege disallowed: protection for holder of privilege against use of information, etc, in proceedings
Any communication or information disclosed as a result of disallowance of a claim of privilege conferred by any sections 54 to 59 64
47: Protection for persons required to disclose information, etc
Where a person discloses a communication or information in compliance with an order of a Judge and any of sections 38 to 43 Status of proceeding
48: Applications for orders under this subpart are civil proceedings for purposes of District Court Act 2016, Senior Courts Act 2016, etc
1: An application to a District Court Judge for an order under this subpart is a civil proceeding for the purposes of the District Court Act 2016 and rules made under that Act.
2: An application to a High Court Judge under section 41 Senior Courts Act 2016 High Court Rules 2016
7: Miscellaneous provisions
Provisions relating to application of Crown Entities Act 2004
49: Commission members’ legal status for purposes of Crown Entities Act 2004
1: The members of the Commission are the board for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004
2: The Chief Commissioner holds office as chairperson of the board for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004
3: The Deputy Chief Commissioner holds office as deputy chairperson of the board for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004
50: Limitation on power to delegate
Despite section 73 section 17
51: Immunities
1: Sections 120 to 126
2: This section is for the avoidance of doubt.
52: Certain provisions relating to statement of intent and statement of performance expectations do not apply
1: Sections 145(d) 147
2: Section 149H(d) 149J
53: Report on additional matter to be included in annual report
The Commission’s annual report under section 150 Amendments to other Acts
54: Amendments to other enactments
The enactments referred to in Schedule 2 OIC 2020/12 2020-04-03 Crown Entities Act 2004 Legal Services Act 2011 Official Information Act 1982 The above 3 Acts brought into force earlier by LI 2020/12 Clause 2(f)﻿(i), (ii), (iii) 2020-07-01 Crimes Act 1961 Victims’ Rights Act 2002 May be brought into force earlier by OIC (see section 2).