Changes of government often see significant shifts in the employment law landscape in New Zealand and the election of the Labour led government in late 2017 was no exception. To this end the Employment Relations Amendment Bill ( the Amendment Bill ) was introduced into Parliament in January 2018 More »

In March 2018 the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment announced that it would be launching a review of insurance contract law. The objectives of the review are to ensure that the law related to insurance means that insurers and insureds are able to transact with confidence at all points More »

Submissions on the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill ( Bill ) are currently open. The purpose of the Bill is to extend protection for employees in triangular employment relationships. Under the Bill, a triangular employment relationship exists where an employee is employed More »

For many directors and business owners, corporate governance is a background function that is secondary to the day to day operations of the company. For those whom strong corporate governance is an ingrained way of life, independent non-executive director positions may follow with other larger, More »

The Privacy Commissioner has recently held that a woman’s privacy was breached when her former employer sent an email to its employees saying she had been dismissed for possessing illicit drugs (Case Note 276280 [2018] NZPriv Cmr 2). The email fell within the meaning of “personal More »

On 20 March 2018, a Supplementary Order Paper and associated draft Regulations ( SOP ) were introduced containing further amendments to the Overseas Investment Act 2005. The amendments set out in the SOP will be considered alongside those already contained in the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill More »

‘What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments but woven into the lives of others.’ Pericles - elected Strategos of Athens, 494-429 BCE These words were said by Pericles during his leadership of Athens, when his city was left in ruins after the devastating More »

Plantation forestry is the third largest primary sector in New Zealand with significant economic and social benefits; however it has the potential to cause significant adverse effects on the environment. Currently, forestry related activities are controlled by rules in district and regional plans. More »

As anyone involved in the rural industry will know, the impacts of the Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) cattle disease are likely to be far reaching; regardless of whether it will eventually be eradicated or not. First found in the country in Oamaru in July 2017, M. bovis has to date been found on 25 More »