NZQA registered unit standard
14949 version 4
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Title
Demonstrate introductory knowledge and understanding of New
Zealand law
Level
3
Credits
3
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe
features of the rule of law in New Zealand society, and New
Zealand's court system.
Classification
Public Sector Services > Public Sector Core Skills
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is intended for people who are, or who intend to be, employed in
the public sector.
2
Definition
Public sector refers to the State sector (central Government), including the Public
Service, crown entities, non-uniformed staffs of the services and forces, offices of
Parliament; and all local authorities (local Government), including local authority
trading enterprises (LATEs).
3
This unit standard complements Unit 8544, Describe how laws are made and
changed in New Zealand.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe features of the rule of law in New Zealand society.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The description explains the concept of the rule of law as it applies to New
Zealand society.
1.2
The description explains various types of law within the New Zealand legal
system.
Range
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
common law, statutory law, regulations and by-laws.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.3
The description explains the place and role of the judiciary in New Zealand
government.
Range
1.4
14949 version 4
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independence of the judiciary from the executive and legislative
branches of government;
examples of role may include but are not limited to – to uphold the
law, to interpret the law, to apply the law, to make judgements on
the basis of the law, to review the law, to resolve disputes about
the law;
evidence of three examples is required.
The description identifies officers in the New Zealand judicial system, and
explains the role of each.
Range
examples of officers may include but are not limited to – judges of
the Court of Appeal, High Court, and/or District Court; justices of
the peace, registrars of courts, police;
evidence of three examples is required.
Outcome 2
Describe New Zealand's court system.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The description identifies functions of different courts.
Range
2.2
courts – Judicial Committee and Court of Appeal, High Court,
District Court, specialist courts, tribunals;
evidence of three examples is required.
The description explains the role of national bodies that oversee the work of the
New Zealand court system.
Range
examples of bodies may include but are not limited to – Attorney
General, Ministry of Justice, Department of Courts, Solicitor
General, Crown Law Office, Law Commission;
evidence of three examples is required.
2.3
The description differentiates between criminal law and process and civil law
and process.
2.4
The description identifies key players in jury trials, and explains the role of each.
Range
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
examples may include but are not limited to – presiding judge,
jury, foreman of the jury, registrar, witnesses, prosecuting and
defence councils, accused;
evidence of three examples is required.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
Planned review date
14949 version 4
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31 December 2013
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
31 August 1998
31 December 2012
Review
2
27 May 2003
31 December 2012
Rollover and
Revision
3
20 November 2009
31 December 2012
Review
4
20 May 2011
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0121
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact The Skills Organisation info@skills.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes
to the content of this unit standard.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016