“GO NO FURTHER THAN THE WORDS OF THE SECTION”: FROM THE EVIDENCE ACT TO THE COMFORT OF THE COMMON LAW MEGAN A PATERSON A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand October 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisor, Donna Buckingham. Your commitment and genuine dedication throughout the year have made writing this dissertation such a stimulating and enjoyable task. I am truly grateful for all your guidance. Thank you to Professor Richard Mahoney for your helpful suggestions and pragmatic approach. Thank you also to Professor Geoff Hall for your advice and enthusiasm. To my friends in law school, thank you for your encouragement and inspiration. It has been a pleasure to share this experience with such a talented group of people. To my flatmates, cheers for your support and for keeping me smiling. Finally, thank you to my family. To my incredible parents, Beth and Graham, words cannot express how grateful I am for your love, unwavering support, and encouragement. Thank you for always believing in me. To Ben, Luke and Jenna, thank you for your positivity and understanding. Title quote from: Messenger v Stanaway Real Estate Limited CIV-2012-404-7205, [2014] NZHC 2103 at [20] citing Body Corporate 191561 v Argent House Ltd (2008) 19 PRNZ 500 (HC) at [31]. ii CONTENTS Introduction: The Impetus for Inquiry .......................................................................... 1 Chapter One: Codification .............................................................................................. 4 A. The meaning of Codification ............................................................................................... 4 Origins of ‘Codification’ ........................................................................................................ 4 Modern Times ......................................................................................................................... 5 B. The Feasibility of a Code ..................................................................................................... 9 Codification in the Common Law Sphere .............................................................................. 9 New Zealand Attempts at Codification ................................................................................ 11 Potential Co-Existence .......................................................................................................... 12 Nature of Evidence Law ....................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: A New Act .................................................................................................... 15 Establishing the Relationship Between the Act and the Common Law ............................... 15 Is the Act truly a Code? .......................................................................................................... 16 I. Usual Code Terminology is Not Employed ...................................................................... 16 II. Comprehensiveness .......................................................................................................... 17 III. Common Law Authorities Easily Accessible ................................................................. 18 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 20 Chapter 3: Was the Change Adequately Signalled? ................................................... 21 I. Drafting .............................................................................................................................. 23 II. Lengthy Gestation ............................................................................................................ 24 III. Effects ............................................................................................................................. 25 Chapter 4: Shortcomings and Explanations ................................................................ 27 A. Principles & Purpose: Weak and Only Decorative ......................................................... 27 The Particular Sections ......................................................................................................... 27 Operational Issues ................................................................................................................. 28 B. Interpretation Difficulties .................................................................................................. 29 I. What is the Meaning of ‘Common Law’? ......................................................................... 31 II. The Distorted Power of New Terminology ...................................................................... 33 III. Determining Parliament’s Intent ..................................................................................... 34 C. Gaps in the Act ................................................................................................................... 34 When is the Act Sufficient? .................................................................................................. 39 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 40 Chapter 5: The Concept of ‘Without Prejudice’ ......................................................... 41 A. Public Policy Considerations ............................................................................................. 41 Deeper Rationales ................................................................................................................. 41 B. Balancing with the Interests of Justice ............................................................................. 43 The Nature of Rules of Evidence .......................................................................................... 43 The Power and Intrusion of Privileges ................................................................................. 43 Curbing the ‘Without Prejudice’ Construct .......................................................................... 44 Chapter 6: Settlement Negotiation privilege An Iteration of the Issues with Sections 10 and 12 and the Codification Attempt ....................................................................... 46 A. Competing Readings of the Scope of Settlement Negotiation Privilege ........................ 47 B. Ideal Perspective on the Privilege ..................................................................................... 48 C. Problematic Present Approaches ...................................................................................... 51 Potential Benefits from a Greater Focus on s 67? ................................................................ 53 D. Practical Realities ............................................................................................................... 54 Maximising the Privilege’s Effectiveness ............................................................................ 55 Keeping the Privilege Up to Date with Public Policy Rationales ......................................... 56 iii Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 56 Chapter 7: Where to From Here? Law Commission Recommendations ................ 58 I. The Periodic Review Mechanism ...................................................................................... 58 II. Proposed Amendment to Section 57 ................................................................................ 59 III. Where Does This Leave Sections 10 and 12 and the Relationship Between the Act and the Common Law? ................................................................................................................ 60 Conclusion: Addressing the Dissatisfaction ................................................................. 64 Appendix 1: Comparison of Provisions ........................................................................ 66 Appendix 2: Selected Provisions from the Evidence Act 2006 ................................... 67 Appendix 3: Law Commission Amendment Recommendations ................................ 72 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 73 iv INTRODUCTION: THE IMPETUS FOR INQUIRY Mr King: “[M]y submission is that the Evidence Act does not seek to depart from [the] common law practice. Had it done so, it would have done so expressly…” Elias CJ: “There’s a general provision that was inserted late into the Evidence Act, which refers to the common law. Is that relevant? I can’t remember. Do you remember –”1 In New Zealand’s highest appellate court, uncertainty persists as to the proper role of the common law in light of the Evidence Act’s enactment.2 Indeed, ss 10 and 12 do refer to the common law, but a mere reference need not suffice to signal the continued persuasiveness of existing cases. This dissertation explores the relationship between the common law and the Evidence Act 2006, and its present effect on the functioning of the Act. I examine the concept of codification to elucidate what was expected of the Act and on what pretence it came about. Against this backdrop, I take a closer look at the emerging confusion surrounding the desired use of section