What happens if you do not have Enduring Powers of Attorney? We all know (or should know) that a valid Will is important to have. A Will comes into effect on your death, appoints who will administer your estate, deals with your assets and liabilities and if valid, prevents an intestacy. Equally important and while…
With New Zealand’s return to a COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown, buying and selling property has become more complicated again. The Level 4 rules do not allow for people to physically move house, so settling and moving during the Level 4 period is not possible. Luckily, most sale and purchase agreements now have a “COVID clause”…
As of 1 April 2021, new rules will govern the allocation of the purchase price for a business sale and purchase. For context, the current rules allow vendors and purchasers to allocate different amounts of the purchase price to the same assets. This has left scope for exploitation, with each party being free to make…
The Labour government has signalled that we should expect to see some of the campaign promises to reform employment law implemented during this term. So, what were these promises, and will you be impacted? We outline the seven proposed changes below: Increasing sick leave entitlements: Labour pledged to increase the minimum entitlement of paid sick…
The swift advancements in the information technology space in the last couple of decades have rendered the Privacy Act 1993 outdated and not fit to effectively regulate the current ways in which we gather, store and use information. To address this, New Zealand has a new Privacy Act on the way. What are the key…
As we settle back into the office and our new normal, there are are number of staff movements to communicate. This month we farewell two of our longest serving team members – Paul Washer and John Meldrum. Both have made significant contributions to the firm during their tenure. We wish them all the best in…
With a number of clients in the midst of a property purchase during lockdown, and others looking to purchase property, we’ve put together the following information to assist you to navigate this process under alert level 3. For buyers who have made an offer you will need to ensure you can meet the conditions of…
The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 applies to couples whether they are in a marriage, de facto or civil union relationship. The purpose of the Act is to recognise the equal contribution of both people to a relationship and to provide for just division of property where a relationship ends by separation or death. If you…
With the government announcing the move to Covid-19 Alert Level 3 on Tuesday 27th April, Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) have released guidance protocols for vertical and horizontal construction projects. Prior to Level 3, businesses are able to: install signage and posters related to workers returning to sites rearrange workplaces for physical distancing of/between workers…
NZ moves to alert level 3 at 11.59pm Monday 27th April, so we have outlined what this means in practical terms for businesses able to get back to work. What Level 3 means in simple terms: If your business can be conducted from home, you must continue to do this unless it is not possible. …