The leading text Todd on Torts (The Law of Torts in New Zealand, General Editor, Stephen Todd) is now available online.

Thomson Reuters Commercial Manager Product Development, Ian McIntosh, says with the emergence of e-books and e-book readers and their growing use, it is inevitable that more and more of the highly regarded, esteemed resource and reference law books will appear online.

This is the third leading text to be released in an online format. Todd on Torts Online follows the successful transition of Company and Securities Law in NZ, and Arbitration.

Karen Self, Editor/Researcher for Leading Texts Online, comments that the benefits of this version compared to its paper counterpart are numerous.

Online is a dynamic medium allowing multiple search options for instance by traditional subject index, keyword or phrase or for cases or legislation cited.

She says it is also easy to browse and link between cross references in the text to other sections of the book, cases or legislation.

The further references section provides links to related material in other online products including commentary, journals and precedents where available; as well as any relevant websites.

While the reassuring solid presence of a traditional book with its capacity to jot notes in the margins may be missing there are compelling compensations.

A Brief History of Todd on Torts

The Law of Torts in New Zealand (“Todd on Torts”) was first published in 1991 by the Law Book Company. It was quickly recognized as the leading text on torts in New Zealand and it retains that status to this day. The enduring high quality of the work is a key reason for its continuing success. A review of the 3^rd edition in (2002) 20 NZULR 159 ) published 10 years after the first stated:

"There can be little doubt that for New Zealanders this is the first port of call when looking for a thorough and vibrant examination of tort law. It is surely also an outstanding resource for all overseas readers."

It is a recommended text in our law schools.

How Many Editions Have There Been?

The work is now in its fifth hardcopy edition.

Why is it the Definitive Text on Torts? 

The goal of the authors of Todd on Torts has always been to provide readers with an authoritative source on the law of torts, and an understanding of the way in which it is developing. The text has kept pace with major developments in the law of accident compensation, negligence, the economic torts, defamation, privacy, causation and limitation of actions.  Each edition of the work has been written to a consistently high standard by expert authors. This consistency has enabled Todd on Torts to retain its reputation as the definitive text on this area of the law.

About Stephen Todd

Stephen Todd is a Professor of Law at the University of Canterbury. He is recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities on the law of torts and is a recipient of the prestigious John Fleming Memorial Prize for Torts Scholarship. He has been the General Editor and lead writer of Todd on Torts since 1991. He is a sought after speaker at many international conferences.  He has also been a consultant to the New Zealand Law Commission and the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.

References and details relating to the other authors

Authors of the 5^th edition include:

• Associate Professor Cynthia Hawes who teaches at the University of Canterbury and whose specialist fields are Commercial and Consumer Law, the law of Agency and Torts relating to chattels.
• Professor John Burrows QC who is a Law Commissioner, and former Professor of Law at Canterbury University. He has written in the areas of Tort law, Media Law and contract law.

Click the link to find out more about Todd On Torts Online