diff --git a/ckan/new_tests/__init__.py b/ckan/new_tests/__init__.py
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index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/ckan/new_tests/data.py b/ckan/new_tests/data.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d5d76a8f800
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+++ b/ckan/new_tests/data.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+'''A collection of static data for use in tests.
+
+'''
+TYPICAL_USER = {'name': 'fred',
+                'email': 'fred@fred.com',
+                'password': 'wilma',
+                }
diff --git a/ckan/new_tests/helpers.py b/ckan/new_tests/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7ad0bd00781
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+++ b/ckan/new_tests/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+'''A collection of test helper functions.
+
+'''
+import ckan.model as model
+import ckan.logic as logic
+
+
+def reset_db():
+    '''Reset CKAN's database.
+
+    Each test module or class should call this function in its setup method.
+
+    '''
+    # Close any database connections that have been left open.
+    # This prevents CKAN from hanging waiting for some unclosed connection.
+    model.Session.close_all()
+
+    # Clean out any data from the db. This prevents tests failing due to data
+    # leftover from other tests or from previous test runs.
+    model.repo.clean_db()
+
+    # Initialize the db. This prevents CKAN from crashing if the tests are run
+    # and the test db has not been initialized.
+    model.repo.init_db()
+
+
+def call_action(action_name, context=None, **kwargs):
+    '''Call the given ckan.logic.action function with the given context
+    and params.
+
+    For example:
+
+        call_action('user_create', name='seanh', email='seanh@seanh.com',
+                    password='pass')
+
+    This is just a nicer way for user code to call action functions, nicer than
+    either calling the action function directly or via get_action().
+
+    If accepted this function should eventually be moved to
+    ckan.logic.call_action() and the current get_action() function should be
+    deprecated. The tests may still need their own wrapper function for
+    logic.call_action(), e.g. to insert 'ignore_auth': True into the context.
+
+    '''
+    if context is None:
+        context = {}
+    context.setdefault('user', '127.0.0.1')
+    context.setdefault('ignore_auth', True)
+    return logic.get_action(action_name)(context=context, data_dict=kwargs)
diff --git a/ckan/new_tests/logic/__init__.py b/ckan/new_tests/logic/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/ckan/new_tests/logic/action/__init__.py b/ckan/new_tests/logic/action/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/ckan/new_tests/logic/action/test_update.py b/ckan/new_tests/logic/action/test_update.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6a7ecfd0d8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ckan/new_tests/logic/action/test_update.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+'''Unit tests for ckan/logic/action/update.py.
+
+'''
+import ckan.new_tests.helpers as helpers
+import ckan.new_tests.data as data
+
+
+def setup_module():
+    helpers.reset_db()
+
+# Tests for user_update:
+#
+# - Test for success:
+#   - Typical values
+#   - Edge cases
+#   - If multiple params, test with different combinations
+# - Test for failure:
+#   - Common mistakes
+#   - Bizarre input
+#   - Unicode
+# - Cover the interface
+# - Can we somehow mock user_create?
+#
+# Correct and incorrect ID
+
+
+def test_user_update():
+    '''Test that updating a user's metadata fields works successfully.
+
+    '''
+    # Prepare
+    user = helpers.call_action('user_create', **data.TYPICAL_USER)
+
+    # Execute
+    user['name'] = 'updated_name'
+    user['about'] = 'updated_about'
+    helpers.call_action('user_update', **user)
+
+    # Assert
+    updated_user = helpers.call_action('user_show', id=user['id'])
+    # Note that we check each updated field seperately, we don't compare the
+    # entire dicts, only assert what we're actually testing.
+    assert user['name'] == updated_user['name']
+    assert user['about'] == updated_user['about']
+
+
+def test_user_update_with_invalid_id():
+    pass
+
+
+def test_user_update_with_nonexistent_id():
+    pass
+
+
+def test_user_update_with_no_id():
+    pass
+
+
+def test_user_update_with_custom_schema():
+    pass
+
+
+def test_user_update_with_invalid_name():
+    pass
+
+
+def test_user_update_with_invalid_password():
+    pass
+
+
+def test_user_update_with_deferred_commit():
+    pass
+
+
+# TODO: Valid and invalid values for other fields.
+
+
+def test_user_update_activity_stream():
+    pass