Ever changing technology means that the insurance industry is often at risk of being out-of-date if it fails to adapt. Recently I was travelling in Melbourne and stayed at an apartment booked through the Airbnb app. It was a novel experience and I contemplated what an insurer or underwriter would More »

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSW Act) is now in force. There has been a lot of concern over how the HSW Act will affect how schools operate, particularly in relation to playgrounds. So what do the people who work in or with schools need to know? What does the HSW Act say? The aim of the More »

Since first emerging overseas in 2008 after the Global Financial Crisis, the global crowd funding market has experienced strong growth reportedly raising over USD16 billion in 2014 and USD34 billion in 2015[i]. In New Zealand while traditional donation based crowd funding, such as the well- More »

Employer and employee obligations Under the new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSW), a person conducting a business or undertaking (a PCBU) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, while at work. This includes protecting workers More »

Amid the exhilaration of pending nuptials, couples often overlook important legal ‘housekeeping’ matters that should be attended to prior to the big day. Here are two items to add to your ‘to do’ list: Your will But I already have a valid will, you say… The law makes More »

A recent prosecution by WorkSafe has been a timely reminder of the requirement not to obstruct an investigation into an incident. Eric Gerritsen ran a business providing amusement rides, including a large inflatable slide which was approximately 12 metres high. At the Masterton A&P Show the More »

Next week, on Monday, 4 April, the long-awaited Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSW Act) comes into force. The HSW Act places obligations on everyone in a workplace to take care of their own health and safety, and the health and safety of others. These duties apply to: a person conducting a More »

This week the Herald highlighted the increasing problem of P contamination in residential properties throughout New Zealand. The Herald went as far to argue it could rival the leaky homes disaster, and whether or not this is true, the issue is seemingly on the rise. Housing New Zealand spends $12 More »

This is an appeal from the High Court’s judgment in Prattley Enterprises Ltd v Vero Insurance New Zealand Ltd [2015] NZHC 1444. The primary issue before the Court of Appeal was whether a settlement entered into by the insured and insurer can be reopened, or whether the insured assumed the More »