Wellington District Legal Services Committee v Tangiora - [1998] 1 NZLR 129

Legal aid — Availability — Civil proceedings — Communication with Human Rights Committee set up under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights — Whether Human Rights Committee an “administrative tribunal” or “judicial authority” — Legal Services Act 1991, s 19(1)(e)(v).

International law — International covenants and conventions — International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and (first) Optional Protocol — Human Rights Committee — Status of Human Rights Committee and its views when it considers communications from individuals who claim to be victims of a violation by a state party of any of the rights set out in the covenant — Significance to domestic law of international obligations.

Statutes — Interpretation — Whether to be interpreted in accordance with traditional rules or in line with the claimed appropriate response of New Zealand Government and New Zealand governmental agencies towards international obligations — Interpretation consistent with New Zealand's international obligations to be preferred — Whether interpretative role of Courts extends to determining the appropriate response of New Zealand towards its international obligations — Legal Services Act 1991, s 19(1)(e)(v).