News & Articles

Court of Appeal decision: what happens when builders go bankrupt and leave homes unfinished?

In a recent case, the New Zealand Court of Appeal in Francis v Gross made an important decision about what happens when buyers of unfinished homes – called “pods” or…

Growth Is Good – But At What Cost

Infrastructure and travel networks are hot topics right now in the Bay of Plenty. Whilst we’re happy to hear NZTA is reviewing its contractor’s practices and the work programme for…

Construction Contracts Update – Stage 3

In 2015 an array of amendments was made to the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA), to be implemented in three stages, namely on 1 December 2015, 1 September 2016, and…

Mbie Will Enforce A Migrant Employment Ban On Employers Who Breach Employment Standards

From 1 April 2017, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will enforce stand down periods for employing migrants for any employer who incurs employment standards-related penalties. This new…

Employment Law – Addressing The Gender Pay Gap

How do you address the gender pay gap? This is the question the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles (the JWG) had to answer when it was established by…

Immigration – New Visa To Attract Investors And Entrepreneurs To New Zealand

A new visa called the Global Impact Visa (“GIV”) aims to attract highly talented, successful and well connected entrepreneurs to establish ventures in New Zealand. The key benefit of the…

Growing Pains

Those resistant to change are losing, and the free market economy is winning. The Bay of Plenty seems to be groaning under the weight, and the tension is visible; speeding…

Immigration Law – Guardian Visas

What is a Guardian Visa? A Guardian Visa or 陪读签证 is a special multiple entry visitor visa category for the legal guardians of young foreign fee paying students. This visa…

Stay Sharp February 2017

The lazy summer days are coming to an end, the kids are back at school and the team are all on deck, recharged and ready to take on 2017. In…

Penalty Payments Under Contracts

Anybody who enters into contracts as part of a construction contract will be familiar with the idea of “liquidated damages”. These clauses outline the amount of money which is payable…