1990 · Charters, declarations and treaties

New Zealand Bill of Rights Act

New Zealand

An ordinary statute that lists civil and political rights and directs the courts to prefer an interpretation of other laws that is consistent with them.

Why it matters

It is the model of a 'dialogue' bill of rights, which does not allow courts to strike down laws. The Human Rights Act 1998 in the United Kingdom borrowed from it.

Built on

1982

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Canada

took the structure and many rights

1966 (in force 1976)

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

International

was passed to give effect to the Covenant

Went on to shape

1998

Human Rights Act 1998 (United Kingdom)

United Kingdom

its duty to read laws consistently with rights echoes the New Zealand Act

Countries in the Legal Families Atlas

New Zealand

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TheLawToKnow Tools’s timeline lists links of influence only where the borrowing is widely documented. Historians sometimes disagree about how much one text shaped another. It is an educational overview, not legal advice.