The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 is the law that applies to the division of property when a relationship ends, by separation or death. This Act is under review and the Law Commission has recommended to the Ministry of Justice that changes are needed, and has submitted a report containing over 140 recommendations to the Ministry…
This article is co authored by Jodi Ellmers and Jessie McKenzie. Our smart phones, smart homes and smart cars allow companies to track and analyse our behaviour all the time. There is value in this data – and competition to make money from it. Things have gotten a little out of hand with respect to…
This article is co-authored by Ryan McMaster and Jessie McKenzie. When buying property or a business, purchasers rely heavily on vendors to provide accurate due diligence information to verify the deal they have struck. But what if their disclosures don’t provide the full picture? In one recent case (Sullivan v Wellsford Properties Ltd), the High…
An insulation deadline is looming for NZ landlords, but as landlords are familiarising themselves with the regulatory changes, further approved regulations are already on the horizon. As of 1 July 2019, NZ landlords must have installed ceiling and underfloor insulation in their rental homes. Any landlord found to not complying with this regulation could find…
Several changes came into effect on May 6. Individual employment agreements that are not in writing are now an infringement offence under the Employment Relations (Infringement Offences) Regulations 2019. Section 65(1)(a) of the Employment Relations Act 2000 already provides that an individual employment agreement must be in writing. At present an employer failing to comply…
The death of a loved one is a stressful time for families and sorting out the legal aspects can be a daunting task for those left behind. The first step is to ascertain whether the deceased had a will. If the answer is yes, the executors and trustees (with assistance from the Estate Solicitors) need…
Sharp Tudhope Lawyers are proud to support Liam Lawson, who took out New Zealand Grand Prix and the Castrol Toyota Racing Series (TRS) Championship over the weekend. Liam is a TRS rookie at just 16 years of age and has a stellar career ahead of him. Only eight of the 18 starters managed to finish…
In November 2018 the Reserve Bank announced that home loan restrictions will be loosened in January. This news has sparked a range of reactions from New Zealand property pundits, with some heralding the change as a blessing for millennials and others dismissing it as a minor change unlikely to have much of an impact. In…
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…