With the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown now in place, we’re receiving queries from both commercial property landlords and tenants seeking to clarify their obligations during this unprecedented event. There is no “one size fits all” answer, and this will depend on the wording of your particular lease. For those with leases using the Auckland District…
Coronavirus (COVID-19), or more specifically, the emergency measures put in place to prevent its spread, is impacting the global economy. Travel restrictions, office and factory closures, and government enforced quarantine requirements have seen substantial business and operational disruptions across the world, and New Zealand is no exception. At a contractual level, the disruption caused by…
A recent article published by stuff.co.nz highlights that many family trusts established in the 1980s and 1990s may no longer be needed due to changes in circumstances and upcoming changes in Trust Law. It is estimated that there are approximately 500,000 Trusts in New Zealand. Trust Partner, Brooke Courtney, agrees that many existing family trusts…
It should be called ‘the missing link’. A project announced and consented during the previous National Government’s tenure, and quietly cancelled by the Greens and Labour after their election win. It certainly created uncertainty and inconvenience for some of our clients who had land interests in the proposed road corridor, and has kept me in…
The Labour government came in with a long to-do list of changes to employment law. In this article co-authored by Shima Grice and Lucy Nolan we look at what has changed and what is still to come. 2019 The year 2019 brought with it a raft of employment law changes. These included: Minimum wage increased…
2019 has been a busy year, with several law changes afoot and new Acts to take effect in the years to come. It’s likely that there are more changes to come in 2020. Some of the proposed legal changes worth keeping an eye on are: Freshwater Proposals In 2018, the Government raised three key objectives…
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…