Property (Relationships) Act 1976: Fifty Years On National Conference
The 50th anniversary of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 will be celebrated at a National Conference in the Grand Hall at Parliament on 3 July 2026.
About the project
The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 and, given its significance to Aotearoa’s family and property law landscape, a National Conference is being held in Wellington on 3 July 2026 to mark this milestone.
The PRA governs the division of property between two partners upon their separation or death. In 2016, the Minister of Justice asked the Law Commission to review the PRA to determine whether it is still operating effectively given the demographic and social changes since 1976. The Law Commission’s 2019 report, which drew on Borrin-funded research conducted by the University of Otago, concluded that the PRA is no longer fit for purpose. Its recommendations, together with those from the complementary succession law review (2021) regarding relationships ending on death, remain under consideration by the Government – which accepts the need for reform, but expects the workplan to take several years.
The Borrin Foundation grant will assist with costs for the ‘Property (Relationships) Act 1976: Fifty Years On’ National Conference 2026. Around twenty speakers and chair-people will contribute presentations on the history of the PRA, socio-legal research findings, the Law Commission’s recommendations, case law developments, tikanga and cultural considerations, and issues relating to the classification of property, trusts, division, and opting out mechanisms.
The National Conference will be preceded by a Workshop for speakers at VUW on 2 July 2026. The conference proceedings will be published in a book or special issue of a relevant law journal. Considerable media interest will also be generated by the conference which is expected to stimulate public and professional consideration of PRA issues and the ongoing urgent need to make the law fairer for partners dividing property at the end of their relationship.
Grant amount
$32,670 for the National Conference and preceding Speakers’ Workshop in July 2026.
About
The National Conference is a collaborative enterprise between family law and property law academics at Otago, Victoria and Auckland Universities. The Steering Group comprises:
- Professor Nicola Taylor, Faculty of Law, University of Otago (Borrin Foundation grantholder)
- Professor Margaret Briggs, Faculty of Law, University of Otago
- Professor Nicola Peart, Faculty of Law, University of Otago
- Professor Bill Atkin, Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington
- Professor Mark Henaghan, Auckland Law School, University of Auckland
Administrative support is being provided by the University of Otago.
Contact
Professor Nicola Taylor, Faculty of Law, University of Otago