A Year of Contrast and Momentum
2025 was a year that asked different things of different clients. Some continued to grow and invest with confidence. Others felt the ongoing drag of New Zealand’s broader economic conditions and opted for a more cautious approach.
For our team, it was a year that started measured and finished with real momentum. We’re cautiously optimistic that 2026 will see continued increases in business confidence, activity, and investment.
However, if we’ve learned nothing else in the last 5 years, it is that trying to forecast the future is a fool’s game! Whatever 2026 brings, we know we are well-positioned to thrive and support our clients through it all.
Team Highlights
We worked alongside valued clients on a wide range of matters, including:
- Supporting startup clients Care Patron and Bovonic Limited to raise capital and expand their businesses.
- Advising MyFarm Investments on its successful expansion into solar development, in close collaboration with Hiringa Energy, via its MyFarm Solar Fund.
- Assisting Whakatōhea Mussels with a capital raise that required careful navigation of Takeovers Code constraints.
- Assisting various iwi and hapū organisations on their investment into and/or development of a variety of agribusiness and other sector investments. In addition, we are continuing our work on iwi and hapū governance and corporate structures in support of the firm’s growing Māori business strategy.
- Helping Bay Oval Trust bring Fisher to Mount Maunganui, as well as advising on other aspects of Bay Oval’s events and Cricket programme.
- James Dow has again been very involved in the energy and infrastructure sectors, bringing his expertise to the region as a member of Priority One’s WBOP Infrastructure Forum and the newly established WBOP Energy Leadership Group.
- Helping export-focused clients work through evolving sanctions regimes and tariff impacts in an increasingly complex global trade environment.
- Handling one of the more unusual files of the year: team member Jarrod McDermott was engaged to verify and catalogue a significant quantity of physical gold and other precious metals as part of an insolvency engagement.
Legal Trends – Data Protection and Privacy Law
We are closely monitoring the ongoing evolution of privacy and data protection law in New Zealand. Recent changes affecting the indirect collection of personal information and the regulation of biometric data are particularly significant. More than ever, all businesses need to understand their obligations in this space and have practical compliance strategies in place.
Expect more practical guidance from us on this front as we move through 2026.
If you want to learn more about this, please be in touch.
Opportunities
We have several clients currently raising capital. From kiwifruit and solar development to early-stage innovators.
If you are a wholesale investor and would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We can connect you with our clients.
Growing the Team
We were delighted to welcome Alice Croucher to the team as a graduate. Alice is exceptionally bright, thoughtful, and has made an immediate positive contribution.
We were also proud to announce the promotion of Christopher Williams and Ryan McMaster to Senior Associate. Both are emerging specialists who are highly capable, motivated and ready to take the next steps in their careers.
Looking Ahead
In 2026, we plan to continue growing our team by adding graduate Jorgia James and to expand our presence in the M&A, Māori business, start-up, agribusiness, and energy and infrastructure sectors.
If you would like to learn more about our capabilities, please get in touch.
We are committed to growing our reputation as a leading provider of corporate and commercial legal services in the Bay of Plenty and beyond.
Thank You
To our clients, referrers, and colleagues, thank you for the trust, the interesting work, and the conversations along the way. We’re excited about what’s ahead.
This article was written by Richard Hoare.
Sharp Tudhope – Corporate & Commercial Team