Publications

Land Information New Zealand controls the holding of certificates of title in respect of each piece of land in New Zealand. There are additional rights and privileges that may be registered in document form against any individual title and these must be cleared with LINZ.

On 19 May 2022 the Minister of Finance, Hon. Grant Robertson delivered New Zealand’s 2022 Budget that included changes to the following First Home products: the First Home Grant, First Home Loan and the Kāinga Whenua Loan scheme.

In May 2020 temporary law changes were made to the Property Law Act 2007 (“the Act”) as part of the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020.

The Fair Pay Agreements Bill has been drafted with the intention of providing a framework for collective bargaining for fair pay agreements across all industries and occupations, rather than just between unions and particular employers.

One of the clearly defined requirements regarding the sale and purchase of land in NZ is that the agreement must be in writing and signed by both the accurate seller and purchaser.

The Family Protection Act 1955 (“FPA”) becomes relevant under either a will or intestacy in circumstances where certain classes of family members have an issue with the extent of their inheritance.

Every child born in New Zealand receives a birth certificate including the details surrounding the time and place, who the parents are and the sex of the child.

Water is a precious and essential resource for us all. Its use and sustainability are constantly under review to ensure it is treasured and used in the most efficient and effective way.

A personal grievance (“PG”) is a type of formal complaint by an employee against their current or former employer if they believe their employer has acted unfairly or unreasonably towards them.

Smart devices that, at their most basic, are physical objects that connect to the internet, which in turn allows them to send, receive and exchange data with the user. Smart watches come under this terminology.

The Purchase Price Allocation (“PPA”) income tax rules came into effect on 1 July 2021. These rules are particularly significant to those selling and purchasing commercial property and businesses.

A restrictive covenant is a contract between two parties that is restrictive in nature; a promise not to do something. The unique feature of restrictive covenants is that once they are noted on your title, they run with the land and bind subsequent owners.

Life can be uncertain, and we never know what is just around the corner. No matter what age you are, anyone could have an accident or become seriously ill. In these circumstances, someone needs to step in and make sure you are being cared for properly.

The new Trusts Act 2019 has had a far-reaching impact on all aspects of trust law. One of its very sensible and practical amendments is to assist in streamlining the process when a trustee under a trust becomes incapacitated.

The new rules around the bright-line test have been hard to miss in recent months, but what do they mean for the average person buying a residential home to live in? The bright-line test has been amended over the years and as such, there are three different rules to consider depending on when you purchased your residential property.

In late March 2021, the Labour Government announced several changes regarding the New Zealand housing policy in an attempt to make the housing market more affordable, particularly for first home buyers.

The KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal and First Home Grants are two separate processes. However, if you are eligible, the combination of the two can jump-start the process of buying your first home.

A vital provision of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (“the Act”) requires the completion of full disclosure by both parties before the Contracting Out Agreement ("COA") or Separation Agreement ("SA") can be signed and certified.

Buying a new house is a positive experience and looked forward to by all purchasers. The Vendors too are looking forward to moving on to a different location.

While the process of buying a used car is usually completed without legal advice, it is useful to refresh the checklist of the key points you should follow.

In an ever-expanding digital world, we will inevitably find ourselves the victim of some form of harmful digital communication.