This seminar booklet is designed to provide the participants with a clear and coherent understanding of how judicial review works in practice in New Zealand.  It is designed to assist those involved in arguing judicial review claims, and those involved in the exercise of powers that can be reviewed.  Judicial review is a topic that is plagued by unnecessary complexity.  It is frequently blighted by the use of arcane terminology, and over-elaborate academic analysis.  At its heart, however, judicial review before the Courts is straightforward.  It should not be a particularly difficult area, but it has been made that way by the tendency for complexity.  The booklet aims to provide a clear understanding of the principles that actually matter before the Courts so that these forces of complexity can be resisted.  It can be seen as part of the continuing struggle for simplicity in administrative law.

Content outline

• What is judicial review?
• The key concept
• The place of judicial review in New Zealand's constitution 
• Misleading concepts
• Use of judicial review by interest groups for tactical advantage
• The grounds for review in greater detail
• Avoiding successful judicial review - the benefit of good procedures
• The court process - summary
• Judicial review: how to do it