R v Pora - [2001] 2 NZLR 37

Criminal law — Sentence — Minimum period of imprisonment — Minimum imprisonment enacted in 1993 — Specific provision for minimum imprisonment for home invasion murder enacted in 1999 — General rule that offender not liable to penalty not in force at time of offence — Whether 1999 amendment applicable to offender sentenced in 2000 for home invasion murder committed in 1992 — New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, s 25(g).

Statutes — Interpretation — Inconsistency within Act — Section stating that notwithstanding any rule of law to contrary offender not liable for penalty not in force at time of offence — Later section applying penalty to offences committed before enactment — Whether later specific section overriding earlier general section — Whether statutory construction affected by fundamental rights — New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, ss 6, 25(g) and 26.