Department of Planning Essay

Prescribed Text There is no prescribed text for this course. Course materials will be provided electronically via Cecil. Lecturers will provide additional reading lists for their particular sections of the course. Preparation Approximately 1 hour preparation is expected for every one hour of class time. You will be required to complete readings allocated in class, in preparation for the next class. However, students are encouraged to add time for background reading. This is particularly important for international students and students for whom English is not their first language. Course Assessment Course assessment is comprised of: Law Assignment (15%)Friday 23 August 2013 at 10AM Class Test (15%)Friday 30 August 2013 at 9AM (1 hour) Politics Essay (20%)Thursday 17 October at 10AM Examination (50%)3 hour examination scheduled for the end of semester 2 When submitting assignments and essays, please use the Planning cover sheets provided beside the assignment hand-in boxes on level 4. Please ensure that you read the academic policies and procedures information in the Planning Undergraduate Handbook at the outset of this course. You will be treated as having read this information. Brief Description of the Course Content This course introduces students to key aspects of New Zealand’s legal system. This is complemented by consideration of the development of local government legislation and by comprehensive discussion of the functions and relationships between essential institutions of a representative democracy. Treaty of Waitangi issues are an integrated aspect of this course. Learning Outcomes The learning outcomes of this course include: * acquisition of basic statutory interpretation skills and case law analysis; * an understanding of the core structure, processes and issues inherent in the New Zealand legal system; * an overview of local government reform since 1989; * an understanding of the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi to institutional and legal frameworks in New Zealand; and * an understanding of key political institutions and processes in New Zealand. Structure Julia Harker will begin the course by lecturing on the New Zealand legal system. This will be followed by a series of lectures given by Ian Munro on local government. After the mid-semester break, Vernon Tava will give a series of lectures on the New Zealand political system. Lena Henry will take the remainder of the course, lecturing on Treaty of Waitangi issues. Reading list relating to the New Zealand Legal System In addition to the prepared course materials: R Miller (ed) New Zealand Government and Politics (OUP, 4th ed, 2006), in particular: Part B – chapters 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and chapter 3.7. Webb, Sanders and Scott The New Zealand Legal System: structures, processes and legal theory (Butterworths, 5th ed, 2010). R D Mulholland Introduction to the New Zealand Legal System (Butterworths, 10th ed, 2001). G Palmer Unbridled Power (OUP, 1987). G Palmer and M Palmer Bridled Power (OUP, 2004). K Palmer Local Authorities Law in New Zealand (Brookers, 2012). See The Constitution Conversation website for resources