Tauranga : +64 7 928 2000
Auckland : +64 9 968 2477

SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses)

Filter by:

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS – CONTRACT AND COMMERCIAL LAW ACT 2017

The Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 ("CCL Act") is set to make some practical changes to a wide range of commercial contracts and will come into force on 1 September 2017. The purpose of the CCL Act is to modernise and consolidate 11 commercial contract statutes into a single piece of legislation under the...
Written by: Paul Milne
Categories: Law Changes | SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

RECRUITMENT – BE DISCERNING, NOT DISCRIMINATORY

A recent story in the NZ Herald highlights a common mistake many employers make when recruiting staff. An advertisement placed by an Auckland vet clinic suggested that the position was not suitable for someone planning to take long periods of "time off for parenting". While many employers may feel this way, discrimination when recruiting can...
Written by: Shima Grice
Categories: SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

SKILLED MIGRANT CATEGORY RULES CHANGE AGAIN

The latest raft of changes in the Government's reset of the permanent visa categories were announced in April 2017. These changes bring an income threshold for applications under the Skilled Migrant Category for residence. Jobs that are considered skilled must meet the New Zealand median income of $48,859 a year. The other threshold is set...
Written by: Michelle Urquhart
Categories: SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS UPDATE – STAGE 3

In 2015 an array of amendments was made to the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA), to be implemented in three stages, namely on 1 December 2015, 1 September 2016, and 31 March 2017. Stage 3 amendments On 31 March 2017 the new retentions regime for constructions contracts came into force, which requires the payer to...
Written by: James Hakaria
Categories: Corporate / Commercial | Law Changes | SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

MBIE WILL ENFORCE A MIGRANT EMPLOYMENT BAN ON EMPLOYERS WHO BREACH EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

From 1 April 2017, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will enforce stand down periods for employing migrants for any employer who incurs employment standards-related penalties. This new regime is designed to protect migrant workers from exploitation.  This group of employees are more vulnerable than domestic workers who enjoy protection from the existing...
Written by: Michelle Urquhart
Categories: Corporate / Commercial | Law Changes | SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

EMPLOYMENT LAW – ADDRESSING THE GENDER PAY GAP

How do you address the gender pay gap? This is the question the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles (the JWG) had to answer when it was established by the government in 2015. This group consists of government, employer and union representatives and was tasked with recommending equal pay principles for government consideration. The...
Written by: Shima Grice
Categories: Corporate / Commercial | Law Changes | SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

GROWING PAINS

Those resistant to change are losing, and the free market economy is winning. The Bay of Plenty seems to be groaning under the weight, and the tension is visible; speeding drivers, traffic jams and accidents, trucks and machines everywhere, committees to talk about smart growth. We're growing rapidly and people want to join us. Those...
Written by: Hamish Murray
Categories: SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses)

PENALTY PAYMENTS UNDER CONTRACTS

Anybody who enters into contracts as part of a construction contract will be familiar with the idea of "liquidated damages". These clauses outline the amount of money which is payable by a party who breaches the contract. The amount payable under a liquidated damages clause is meant to be a genuine pre-estimate of the damage...
Written by: Janine McTainsh
Categories: Corporate / Commercial | SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

STAY SHARP DECEMBER 2016

December has flown by and with the Christmas rush in full effect we aim to keep this newsletter short and sweet. With retail sales booming, Law Clerk, Alexia Grindle clarifies your rights in relation to exchanging goods and we introduce new recruit, Property Solicitor, Lauren Qiu. There's a reminder to those who own rental property...
Written by: Janine McTainsh
Categories: SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses)
Menu