Recent cases in the Employment Court and Employment Relations Authority have seen employees receiving increased awards for hurt and humiliation compensation. Until recently, the quantum of awards had not changed significantly over the past 20 years. For the 2013-2016 period compensatory awards for More »

A new Privacy Bill has been tabled in Parliament. It introduces some small but notable changes to the privacy regulatory framework in New Zealand. The Bill (once passed) will affect your business. Its passage through the parliamentary process is one you should keep an eye on. Below is a summary of More »

In the context of resource consent applications, people often consider themselves to be affected by activities occurring in close proximity to their properties. However, whether a person is “an affected person” under the resource management act is a complex question – there is no More »

Once again the farming community in the Mackenzie Basin is grappling with what impact a new plan change is likely to have on their operations and livelihoods. Immediately prior to Christmas the Mackenzie District Council notified plan change 18 – Indigenous Biodiversity. Plan change 18 More »

If you are a licensed asbestos removalist, or you or your business owns or occupies a building containing asbestos, you will need to ensure that you are complying with the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 when they come into full force on 4 April 2018. Owners and occupiers of More »

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment have issued a media release calling for farmers to ensure they provide minimum employment entitlements to employees and keep proper records. The Labour Inspectorate has recently handed out significant fines to some farmers, and more farmers will be More »

When should Executors advise family members about a person’s death or their right to bring a claim against an Estate under the Family Protection Act? That is a difficult question, and one that can sometimes arise during administration. After all, it is not unusual for clients to remove family More »

Nowadays sports headlines outing athletes for doping are no longer a rarity. The use of banned substances in sport is a well-publicised issue and one that has plagued elite sports since the Ancient Greeks tried all manner of herbs, hallucinogens and opiates to gain an edge over their competitors [1 More »

As holiday season officially begins and with many businesses due to close down over the Christmas period, it is important for employers to ensure that they are meeting their obligations under the Holidays Act 2003. This is particularly important for businesses with employees who work fluctuating or More »