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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)

STAY SHARP OCTOBER 2016

It's hard to believe there are only eight working weeks until Christmas! Whilst we are looking forward to a break, we are also well aware that legal issues don't just go away over Christmas so the team are working hard to ensure client needs are met.for and Brooke Courtney tells us why due diligence is...
Written by: Janine McTainsh
Categories: SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses)

ASSIGNING A LEASE – ARE YOU “OFF THE HOOK”?

If you are thinking of selling your business and assigning your premises lease, or moving your business to new premises, you may need to assign your lease (assuming that the lease does not prohibit assignment). Normally, you will need your landlord's consent to the assignment. Before consenting to the assignment, your landlord must be satisfied...
Written by: Janine McTainsh
Categories: SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses)

EMPLOYERS – ARE YOUR STAFF WITHOUT WRITTEN AGREEMENTS?

Despite legal requirements that all employees have a written employment agreement, thousands of New Zealand employees are still working without one, a recent survey by Statistics New Zealand has showed. The survey has shown that almost one in 10 employees do not have their terms and conditions in writing.  Casual and part-time employees are the worst affected...
Written by: Shima Grice
Categories: Law Changes | SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues

THERE IS A COURT IN NEW ZEALAND THAT LAWYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED INTO…

And it is the same Court that decides the vast majority of all legal disputes in New Zealand. The name of the Court is the Disputes Tribunal. Formerly known as the Small Claims Court, the Tribunal was set up as an efficient and cost effective way to decide disputes between individuals, companies and trusts up...
Written by: Michelle Urquhart
Categories: SMEs (Small to Medium Businesses) | Topical issues
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