The place where
New Zealand case law connects.
Judgments from New Zealand courts and tribunals, the legislation they apply, and the legal terms behind them — all cross-linked, so you go from a case, to the law it cites, to the plain-English definition, in one click. No account. No paywall. No catch.
Start anywhere. Follow the thread.
Most legal research stops at a single document. VadeLab doesn't. Every judgment links to the law it applies; every section of legislation links back to the judgments that interpret it; every legal term links to where it actually gets used. You're never stuck reading one page in isolation — you follow the reasoning wherever it leads.
Find a case, get the plain-English summary, the legal holding and the outcome — then jump straight to every Act or regulation it cites, already highlighted section by section.
See the exact section of legislation behind the decision, in context — and see every other judgment that has applied, interpreted or tested that same section.
Hit a phrase you don't recognise — “balance of probabilities”, “without prejudice”, “estoppel” — and get a plain-English definition, linked to the cases and statutes where its meaning is actually decided.
Three ways in. One connected map of the law.
Real judgments, explained in plain English
Not just a scanned PDF and a citation. Every judgment is broken down so you can actually use it.
Every judgment starts with what actually happened and what the court decided — no wading through dense legal prose to find the point.
The specific legal principle the case established or applied, pulled out on its own — so you know exactly what precedent it sets.
Who won, what was ordered, and what it means in practice — not just the abstract legal question.
Where a pattern exists across similar cases, we show what tends to weigh in the court's reasoning — useful context before you assume your case is a one-off.
No more copying a section number into a separate search. If a judgment cites it, you can open it, in full, in one click.
One search reaches judgments, legislation and legal terms together — find the concept, wherever it lives.
Who it's for
Public, free content, organised so each type of reader finds what they need.
Direct access to public case law. Before paying for advice, see what has already been decided in cases like yours — in plain English, not legalese.
Real cases to see how doctrine becomes practical application. Judgments from New Zealand courts and tribunals, organised in one place, with the reasoning laid bare.
Quick, verifiable precedent to support your work — court or tribunal, judge and date identified, and checkable against the official source.
Where to start
Three doors into the same connected library. Pick whichever matches what you already know.
Start with case law. Search by topic or keyword, find a judgment close to your situation, and follow the links out from there.
Explore case law →Browse legislation section by section, then see every judgment that has applied or interpreted the part you're looking at.
Browse legislation →Search across the whole library at once — judgments, legislation and definitions together — and see where a term is actually used.
Search VadeLab →Common questions
Is VadeLab really free?
Yes. Every judgment, every piece of legislation and every glossary entry is free to read, with no account required and no paywall — now or planned. There's no hidden “professional” tier behind it.
Where does the content come from?
Judgments are drawn from official public sources for New Zealand courts and tribunals. Every entry is verifiable against the original — we're not summarising rumour, we're organising what's already public.
Is this legal advice?
No. VadeLab is a research tool, not a lawyer. It helps you understand what the law says and how courts and tribunals have applied it, but it doesn't assess your specific situation. If you need advice you can rely on, speak to a qualified lawyer.
How current is the collection?
It's growing continuously — new judgments are added on an ongoing basis, and coverage expands week by week. It isn't a complete archive of every New Zealand judgment ever handed down, but it's a real, checkable, and growing one.
Can I trust the summaries?
The summaries are written to make judgments easier to read, not to replace them. Each one links directly back to the source, so you can verify the plain-English version against the original judgment yourself.
Do I need to create an account?
No. Everything on VadeLab is open — search, read, and follow links freely, with nothing to sign up for.
The law, connected — and open to everyone.
No account, no paywall, no waiting. Start with a case, a section of legislation, or a term you don't understand — and see where it leads.
VadeLab provides legal information, not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a qualified lawyer.