Comparison

Read two legal systems against each other

Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.

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Comparison of selected legal systems
Attribute	Papua New GuineaReviewed	New ZealandReviewed
Legal family	Common law with customary law	Common law
System of governmentIdentical	Constitutional monarchy	Constitutional monarchy
Constitution	Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea	Uncodified — principally the Constitution Act 1986
In force since	1975	1986
Capital	Port Moresby	Wellington
Official languages	English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu	English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Currency	Papua New Guinean kina (PGK)	New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Population	10,300,000	5,200,000
Division of powers	Decentralised but not federal. Twenty-two provinces, including the National Capital District, have provincial governments with limited legislative power under the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments 1995. The Autonomous Region of Bougainville has a distinct constitutional status: its 2019 non-binding referendum returned 97.7% for independence, and the Constitution was amended in 2024 to provide a ratification pathway.	Unitary. Parliament legislates for the whole country and there are no states or provinces. Regional and territorial authorities exist only under the Local Government Act 2002 and exercise delegated statutory powers. Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory, while the Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing in free association with New Zealand and have their own legal systems.
How law is made	Bills pass through three readings in the single chamber and receive the Governor-General's assent. Constitutional amendments must be published in advance, and depending on the provision require an absolute majority, two-thirds or three-quarters of all members, voted on at two sittings at least two months apart. Organic Laws follow the same entrenched process. The Speaker certifies that the constitutional requirements were met, and failure to follow them has led the Supreme Court to strike amendments down.	A bill has a first reading, select committee scrutiny (usually with public submissions), second reading, committee of the whole House, and third reading, followed by Royal assent. There is no upper house, so the select committee stage carries the weight that a second chamber would elsewhere. The Attorney-General must report to the House under section 7 of the Bill of Rights Act on any bill that appears inconsistent with protected rights, but the House may pass it anyway. Reserved provisions of the Electoral Act 1993 require either 75% of all members or a majority at referendum.
Legal profession	A fused profession under the Lawyers Act 1986: lawyers are admitted by the National Court and hold an unrestricted or restricted practising certificate issued by the Papua New Guinea Law Society. Most qualify through the University of Papua New Guinea law degree and the Legal Training Institute's practical course. The Law Society regulates admission and discipline, and the Public Solicitor is the main provider of representation for those who cannot pay.	A fused profession under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006: a lawyer is admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court, and may then practise as a barrister sole or in a firm. Admission requires an approved law degree, the Professional Legal Studies Course and a certificate of character. The New Zealand Law Society \| Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa regulates the profession, and King's Counsel are appointed from senior practitioners.

A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.