December 2023 The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) allows for any person to make a request for a district plan to be amended. This is known as a private plan change. In this article we explain what a private plan change is, and what the process involves. District plans govern land use throughout New Zealand.… Read More.
September 2023 Signing a commercial lease is a step most businesses will have to take. The lease sets out the terms and conditions under which the tenant will occupy a commercial property. This article outlines a number of essential factors a prospective tenant should consider when evaluating and negotiating a commercial lease in New Zealand.… Read More.
September 2023 It has been a long and winding road, but the Government has achieved its aspirations to reform the resource management system in New Zealand. The replacement legislation, the Natural and Built Environment Act (NBEA) and the Spatial Planning Act (SPA) was given Royal Assent on 23 August 2023. While the NBEA and SPA… Read More.
September 2023 Personal Grievance and Sexual Harassment A large light has been shining directly onto sexual harassment in the workplace. The light is exposing the disconcerting reality that sexual harassment exists but often goes unreported. The Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Act 2023 (the Act) extends the time for… Read More.
September 2023 The Water Services Act 2021 represents an important change to the regulation of drinking water in New Zealand that will require modifications to many existing water schemes, particularly for rural suppliers. Created in response to the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak, the Act imposes significant obligations on owners and operators of ‘drinking water supplies’… Read More.
September 2023 The Government may be hoping that strategic changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) announced recently will tip the balance in New Zealand’s favour when skilled migrants weigh up their relocation options. At the least, the introduction of a maximum continuous stay period for all AEWV holders should give workers more certainty… Read More.
July 2023 Did you know that the liquidator of a company can sometimes lay claim to assets held by other companies in your group? This article will outline when a liquidator can do that, and things you can do to increase your chances of defending this challenge. When can a liquidator of a company lay… Read More.
July 2023 The environmental, social and governance business framework known as ESG has been around for a long time, but how will it affect the construction industry and local authorities? NZCS1, NZCS2 and NSCS3 are new Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Standards – with No.1 being general requirements for climate-related disclosures. These are requirements under the… Read More.