The Government hopes to scrap the partial defence of provocation in homicide cases by the end of this year.
Prime Minister John Key says the Cabinet on Monday considered a paper on abolishing the present law.
Mr Key says a bill calling for the abolition of the partial defence of provocation in homicide cases has been drafted and will be introduced into Parliament this week.
He says the defence has proved controversial in recent times and the Law Commission has recommended that it be abolished.
Mr Key says he is satisfied abolishing the law will not affect an individual's rights because the issue of provocation can be adequately dealt with by the Sentencing Act.
He says he hopes to have the new legislation enacted by the end of the year.
