Legal Articles & Publications

By: Kate Woods, Alyssa Langford

A number of recent Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment determinations, and District and Environment Court decisions have discussed the legality of ‘tiny houses’, and specifically the question of whether they need to comply with the requirements of the Building Act 2004 and Resource Management Act 1991.

By: Emily Walton, Bethany Entwistle

COVID-19 has created unprecedented working situations for businesses. Many are rapidly trying to grapple with their employees working from home. Cybercriminals are using these unprecedented times as an opportunity for online scams and attacks. Businesses need to be hypervigilant.

By: Emily Walton, Bethany Entwistle

COVID-19 has created unprecedented working situations, with many employees being required to work from home at short notice. This article sets out some simple practices that you and your employees can implement at home, to ensure privacy standards are maintained.

By: Penny Birch, Katrina Hammon

As COVID-19 has dramatically changed the business landscape in New Zealand, many directors have been left wondering whether their efforts to save their businesses could expose them to personal liability for trading whilst insolvent.

By: Tom Corkill

On 1 April the New Zealand Government, together with retail banks and the Reserve Bank announced the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme package for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By: Ash Hill, Katrina Hammon

At a press conference today given by Finance Minister Grant Robertson (Minister) it was announced that the government will be introducing legislation to amend the Companies Act 1993 (Act) to help companies that are faced with insolvency due to COVID-19.

By: Amanda Douglas, Chelsea Wiggill

On 2 April 2020, the Government announced an “essential workers leave scheme” in relation to essential workers who are unable to work from home and become sick or are vulnerable, or who have sick or vulnerable members of their household.

By: Michelle Mehlhopt, Tegan Wadworth

The Associate Minister of Transport has proposed an ‘Accessible Streets’ rule package which seeks to improve the safety and efficiency of multiple types of transport.

By: Emily Walton

The uptake of private health insurance in NZ is dropping. With our public health system and ACC meeting the cost of urgent medical care, and some resultant income loss, you might ask “is health insurance worth it?”

By: Michelle Mehlhopt, Jesse Aimer

The Ministry for the Environment has extended the consultation timeframes for the proposed National Environmental Standards for the Outdoor Storage of Tyres and proposed amendments to the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. In addition, the Ministry of Transport has extended the consultation timeframe for the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.

By: Andrew Watkins, Anna Needham

Separation and the division of relationship property is a stressful and uncertain process under normal circumstances. This will only be exacerbated during a global pandemic.

By: Michelle Mehlhopt, Jesse Aimer

The Government is seeking feedback on the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport for 2021/22 – 2030/31 (GPS 2021). The GPS 2021 aims to provide direction to those who are planning, assessing and making decisions on investment of the National Land Transport Fund (Fund) over the next 10 years.