The Law Association of New Zealand (TLANZ) is urging the Government to go further in its legal aid reform proposals, saying the system remains under severe strain and is struggling to meet the needs of the people it was designed to serve.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith launched a public consultation in June, inviting feedback on how to make the legal aid system more efficient, sustainable and accessible. The consultation closed on 23 July, following the release of a discussion document outlining key issues and possible changes.

“We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that change is needed,” said Tony Herring, President of TLANZ. “But the proposals on the table do not go far enough to address the scale of the crisis. When people in poverty cannot access legal advice or representation, the justice system itself is falling short.”

TLANZ has submitted formal feedback to the Ministry of Justice and highlighted five major concerns:

• Eligibility thresholds are too low and not being reviewed. Current income limits exclude many people living below the poverty line, yet the Government has ruled out expanding them at this stage.
• Proposed increases to repayment obligations would further deter vulnerable applicants. Legal aid debt already discourages access, especially among Māori, Pacific peoples and disabled communities.
• The legal aid workforce is shrinking rapidly. Low pay and excessive bureaucracy are driving lawyers out of the system, leaving clients without representation and causing delays across the courts.
• Reform must reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Māori and Pacific people are overrepresented in the justice system and face systemic barriers to legal support.
• There is no plan to rebuild the provider base in family and civil law. While the Government has paused eligibility improvements due to workforce shortages, it has not outlined how those shortages will be addressed.

“The legal aid system is not just a safety net. It is a foundation of equal justice under law,” said Mr Herring. “We urge the Government to take bolder steps to ensure the system works for the people who rely on it and for the lawyers who keep it going.”

TLANZ will continue to advocate for a legal aid system that is fair, properly funded and accessible to all who need it.

Media contact:
Dale Owens
Public Relations Consultant
The Law Association of New Zealand
02108889844
[email protected]

Read the Triennial Review of Legal Aid Submission by The Law Association of New Zealand here – 2025-08-01 – Triennial Review of Legal Aid – TLANZ