Program Overview

Introduction to New Zealand Legal System

The Introduction to New Zealand Legal System, denoted as LAWS 121, is a foundational course that provides an essential first step in the law degree. It introduces students to the New Zealand legal system, its relationship to government, Parliament, and the Courts, and the place of the Treaty of Waitangi within this framework. Additionally, it covers critical, theoretical, and cultural perspectives on the legal system, including issues related to race and gender.

Course Details

• Course Code: LAWS 121
• Duration: 17 weeks, from 23 February 2026 to 21 June 2026
• Trimester: Trimester 1
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$1,360.00
  • International students: NZ$6,887.20
• Lecture Times:
  • Monday: 9.00am
  • Tuesday: 9.00am
  • Thursday: 9.00am
• Campus: Kelburn
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 200 hours or 11.8 hours per week
• Points: 20

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: Students who have already passed LAWS 111 or LAWS 124 cannot take this course.

Taught By

The course is taught by the School of Law, Faculty of Law.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an introductory level of knowledge of selected legal norms and of one legal practice of tikanga Māori.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of different aspects of the New Zealand legal system.
3. Demonstrate the foundational knowledge vital for the rest of the LLB degree.
4. Show some understanding of how to read, write, argue, and critically analyse in a legal manner.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of different perspectives relating to the New Zealand legal system, including Māori perspectives.

How This Course Is Taught

• The course includes lectures and tutorials. Tutorials are compulsory, with an expectation to attend at least 7 out of 11 tutorials.
• Assessment includes an in-person final test, quizzes, and an essay.
• The "Double Chance" policy allows students to have their final overall marks based on the best score of either all four assessments or three assessments with the final test weighted at 70%.

Assessment

• In-person Final Test: 120 minutes, permitted hard copy materials, 50% of the mark.
• Quizzes: 4 quizzes, each worth 2.5%, open from 4.00pm on scheduled Thursdays until 10.00am on Fridays, 10% of the mark.
• Online Test: 60 minutes + 10 minutes reading time, open book, 20% of the mark.
• Essay: 1,000 words, due by 4.00pm, Friday, 8 May 2026, 20% of the mark.

Mandatory Requirements

To pass this course, students must:

1. Sit all in-term assessments and the final assessment.
2. Attend the allocated tutorial, with a minimum attendance of 7 out of 11 tutorials.
3. Complete quizzes.
4. Submit the test and the essay as genuine attempts at a passing answer.

What You'll Need to Get

No specific texts or equipment are required for this course.

Past Versions of This Course

Older versions of this course may be accessible through the course archive.