Character Waivers Explained
What is a character waiver? To qualify for a visa in New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requires the applicant to be of good character. If you are aged 17…
Legally Official Or Just Facebook Official?
If you are in a long-term relationship, but not married, you may be wondering where you and your partner stand when it comes to ownership of your hard-earned assets. If…
Separation And Relationship Property Division – How Does It Work?
When a relationship fails, relationship property division can be settled either by agreement between the parties, or by a decision of a Family Court Judge. As experienced Family lawyers, we…
Record-keeping And Wages Under The Microscope – Poor Administration Can Be Costly
A recent Employment Relations Authority case, Labour Inspector v Aulack Enterprises Limited, highlights the importance of ensuring that all employees have compliant employment agreements, that your wage and time records are accurate,…
Important Client Update – Anti Money Laundering
New Zealand has passed a law called the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (we will call it the AML/CFT law). The purpose of the law reflects…
Immigration Update – Work Visa Variations Explained
If you’re in New Zealand on a work visa and your employment circumstances change, it can be a stressful time filled with uncertainty. The good news is, you can update…
Employment Law Changes Are On Their Way
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament last week. It contains provisions rolling back the last government’s changes to individual terms of employment and to collective bargaining and…
Income Thresholds Rise For Residency And Work Visa Applications
On 15 January 2018 Immigration New Zealand increased the salary bands for Essential Skills work visa and Skilled Migrant residency visa applications. The increases are slight, and come about because…
Caveat Emptor – An Ancient Roman Concept Is Still Alive!
As a lawyer who studied Latin in High School, I am delighted to see the phrase ‘caveat emptor’ in the national news this month. Too often we see people choosing…
Six Things To Consider Before Buying An Apartment Off The Plan
With council planning rules in many urban centres focussing strongly on increasing density of housing, and with many proposed new apartment developments in the pipeline for Tauranga, apartment living and…