June 2017 The Supreme Court in Erceg v Erceg [2017] NZSC 28 has confirmed the court's important role in supervising trustee decisions to not disclose information to beneficiaries. In clarifying the court's supervisory role, this decision should assist beneficiaries in holding trustees to account. Erceg replaces the Privy Council decision of Schmidt v Rosewood Trust… Read More.
June 2017 On 16 February 2017 the Contract and Commercial Law Bill passed its third reading. The Bill consolidates 11 contract and commercial acts into a single piece of legislation. The drafters have also taken the opportunity to update the legislation to simplify the language used and make it more accessible and easier to understand.… Read More.
March 2017 The problem for sufferers of occupational overuse syndrome is that from both a medical and legal perspective, it is difficult to differentiate between psychological and physiological pain. Pain is a subjective issue. At one end of occupational overuse syndrome, there will be clear evidence of a sprain or strain involved with carpal tunnel… Read More.
March 2017 People can get understandably touchy about their good name. This extends to the business world, where reputation can be everything. So when Danish-Norwegian Eurodance group Aqua struck it big in 1997 with their chart-topping hit Barbie Girl, Mattel – maker of the Barbie fashion doll – were pretty upset about it. The doll… Read More.
March 2017 If you’re looking forward to spending less time in your business and more on enjoying your life as you head towards retirement, then you’re not alone. Like many of our clients, you’re of the baby-boomer generation who have worked hard for decades to generate income and now want to sell your business or… Read More.
March 2017 Statutes Amendment Act 2016 The Statutes Amendment Act 2016 amending the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 (‘PPPR Act’) received Royal Assent on 16 December 2016. The amendments to the PPPR Act will come into force 90 days following Royal Assent, on 16 March 2017. The Protection of Personal and Property… Read More.
March 2017 Employers who have not reviewed their employment agreements since April 2016 risk being caught out by recent changes to employment law. In 2016, the Government made sweeping changes to the Employment Relations Act 2000 (Act) designed to prohibit ‘zero hour contracts’. Amongst the changes were new rules about hours of work, and availability… Read More.
November 2016 Introduction The law governing health and safety obligations in New Zealand was recently updated with the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (‘the Act’). This Act imposes legal obligations on people conducting any business activity in New Zealand. All New Zealand businesses should be updating their practices and procedures… Read More.