Enduring Powers of Attorney – What are they and why do I need them?
Why Wills Aren’t Enough: Planning for Incapacity Let’s say you have taken the time recently to sign a Will with your lawyer. You tuck it away in a drawer and…
Building Contracts Explained – Fixed Price Agreements And Expectations
If you’re building a new home under a fixed price contract, you’ve probably been impressed with the style, finishes and fixtures of a show home and think that this is…
Skilled Migrant Category Rules Change Again
The latest raft of changes in the Government’s reset of the permanent visa categories were announced in April 2017. These changes bring an income threshold for applications under the Skilled…
Rental Shortage Bites Wannabe Landlord
The shortage of rental property combined with families in desperate need of accommodation was a recipe for disaster for a Manurewa landlord recently who was ordered to repay $15,840 in…
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…