It’s clear that New Zealand is in the depths of a housing crisis, with the lack of supply and new development in our main urban centres in particular. Many commentators have proposed several solutions to try to fix this and there is merit to many of these solutions. However, without properly understanding the underlying causes…
No access in emergency clauses have been a hot topic for most landlords and tenants since NZ’s first level 4 lockdown last year. Clause 27.5 of the ADLS Deed of Lease is likely the more discussed clause in leases in the last 18 months. During NZ’s level 4 lockdown in 2020, it became apparent that…
If you pass away and do not have a Will in place, this is called dying ‘intestate’. In this situation, the Administration Act 1969 comes into play and dictates how the next steps are undertaken. Your next of kin will need to apply to the court using a document called ‘Letters of Administration’ and ask…
One of the employment law reforms proposed by the Government was the introduction of “Fair Pay Agreements” (FPAs). An FPA would set minimum employment terms and conditions for all workers in the industry or sector covered by the agreement. This means that employers and employees could still agree on better pay and conditions than are…
Have you and your partner entered into a Relationship Property Agreement? You might be surprised to find that your separate property may not be as secure from your partner as you think. In a recent High Court case, the Court concluded that a Relationship Property Agreement does not protect one’s assets from a Family Protection…
The recent case of The Estate of Thomas Winston Hodgson highlights changes under the new Trusts Act and what the Court will deem ‘reasonable measures’ when trying to find missing beneficiaries. In this article we explore your responsibilities under the Trusts Act 2019 when a beneficiary cannot be found. Brief history – Thomas Winston Hodgson…
On 24 May 2021, the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Act 2021 (“the Act”) received the Royal Assent. It comes into force on 24 July 2021. What does this mean? Effect of Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Act 2021 From 24 July 2021: The minimum entitlement to paid sick leave in New Zealand will increase…
Employers need to be aware of what changes are here and what lies ahead, particularly in relation to employees’ leave and the report of the Holidays Act Working Group. Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Employees will now have the right to take up to three days’ paid bereavement leave if they or their partner…
Many Tauranga residents have recently received a letter from Tauranga City Council informing them of Plan Change 27 and advising that their property is one impacted by the proposed Plan Change. Below, we break down what Plan Change 27 is, why it’s being implemented, what it means for you and what you can do about…
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…