Often, we think of the elderly when considering putting enduring powers of attorney in place – but the reality is that everyone should have one. Having an EPA means you choose upfront who you would like to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to make them for yourself due to…
House and land packages are a commonplace transaction in Tauranga due to the amount of residential subdivisions in our region. We are seeing increasing numbers of our clients buying off the plan and it is important to get good legal advice before you sign anything. A number of items should be checked out to ensure…
The Trusts Act 2019 is now a reality and will come into force on 31 January 2021. The Trusts Act 2019 will replace the Trustee Act 1956, applying to all existing and future trusts in New Zealand. The Trusts Act 2019 is intended to make trust law simpler, more transparent and more accessible to the…
If you’re are a commercial landlord, the requirement to have an Asbestos Management Plan in place may have slipped under your radar. New legislation was introduced on 4 April 2016 (the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016) and, from 4 April 2018, a Landlord can face a fine for being in breach of…
Did you know that if you die without a Will, the law says what will happen to your assets AND there is no guarantee your wishes will be carried out? Even the best laid plans can see family left behind dealing with more stress than they need to. Here’s our top 5 things to think…
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…