This year we have seen a number of changes in the law, with both the Land Transfer Act 2017 and the Overseas Investment Amendment Act 2018 coming in to force, and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 rules applying to lawyers, accountants and real estate agents. By all accounts, it…
This blog is the second part of an ongoing series exploring the impact of Blockchain on the law. Click here to read part one which addresses the basics of Blockchain technology. The concept of smart contracts dates as far back as 1994, when Nick Szabo, a legal scholar and cryptographer realised the potential for autonomous…
Did you know that from today, the much-anticipated Land Transfer Act 2017 comes into force and replaces the 66-year-old Land Transfer Act 1952? The differences between the old and the new Act include changes to common property law terminology. Although their meanings remain the same, below are some of the changes to terminology you may…
Tauranga is growing at a pace we have never seen before. This means our city needs to plan for and invest in infrastructure, land supply for housing and development must keep pace with this. Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council/Smartgrowth have each respectively released the following consultation documents: Tauranga Urban Strategy (TUS)…
The Overseas Investment Amendment Act 2018 (“Act”) will take effect on 22 October 2018. The Act will prevent overseas people from buying residential property in New Zealand without Government consent by bringing “residential land” into the definition of “sensitive land” in the Overseas Investment Act 2005. Overseas people who buy residential property in New Zealand…
From 26 November 2018, employers will no longer able to employ students on a Post Study Work Visa. This visa was available to migrants who were on a Post Study Work Visa after completing their studies in New Zealand. The original intent of this visa was to allow students to get relevant work experience in…
By now you may have heard of Blockchain, a disruptive force that promises to revolutionise everything from the banking system to the legal domain. This begs the question: what exactly is Blockchain? Blockchain first emerged as the technology underlying Bitcoin, a new form of currency for the digital age and a reaction to the faltering…
Student loans are often forgotten when couples think about relationship property and relationship debt. Personal debt will usually remain with the person that incurred the debt, while relationship debt is divided equally (if you have been together for 3 years or more). The treatment of a student loan should be considered before entering into a…
Whilst movies and TV shows lead us to believe that “getting a divorce” is all very simple and straightforward, in New Zealand this is quite often not the case. In New Zealand, the legal term for “getting a divorce” is being granted a Dissolution Order by the Family Court. To qualify you must have been…