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Inquiries Act 2013

Duties, powers, immunities, and privileges - Counsel assisting

13: Counsel to assist inquiry

You could also call this:

"Getting a lawyer to help with an inquiry"

Illustration for Inquiries Act 2013

If you are part of an inquiry, you can ask for a lawyer to help you with your work. Before you make this request, you must think about the purpose of the Inquiries Act 2013, which is to help inquiries be carried out in a fair and efficient way. You must also consider what your inquiry is about and how you will carry out your tasks.

When you ask for a lawyer to help, the Solicitor-General will choose one for you. The Solicitor-General must think about the same things you did, like the purpose of the inquiry and how it will be carried out. The Solicitor-General will also talk to you about who the lawyer will be and what their job will entail.

The Solicitor-General will make sure the lawyer they choose is suitable to help you with your inquiry, and they will discuss the details of the appointment with you.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1566147.

Topics:
Government and voting > Government departmentsCrime and justice > Courts and legal help
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12: Reporting by inquiry, or

"Writing a final report after an inquiry to share what you found out and what you think should happen next"

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14: Regulation of inquiry procedure, or

"Running an inquiry fairly and efficiently"

Part 3Duties, powers, immunities, and privileges
Counsel assisting

13Counsel to assist inquiry

  1. An inquiry may request the appointment of counsel to assist the inquiry, but before making a request, must consider and have regard to—

  2. the purpose of this Act and, in particular, the purpose of the Act to enable an inquiry to be carried out effectively, efficiently, and fairly; and
    1. the nature of the subject matter of the inquiry; and
      1. the procedures most appropriate for carrying out the terms of reference.

        1. The Solicitor-General must, if requested to do so, appoint counsel to assist an inquiry, but in doing so must—

        2. have regard to the matters specified in subsection (1); and
          1. consult the inquiry on—
            1. the proposed appointee; and
              1. the terms and conditions to apply to the appointment.