In this issue

1. Health and Safety at Work
2. Time to Fence Those Waterways!
3. Over the Fence

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Health and Safety at Work

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 comes into force on Monday, 4 April this year. Since the Pike River tragedy thrust workplace health and safety firmly into the limelight we have published several articles outlining the likely changes to health and safety law.

In this issue

1. The Bright-line Test
2. Look Before you Leap into a Contract
3. Property Briefs

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FEATURE ARTICLE

The Bright-line Test

In our Winter edition (page 4) we noted the government’s proposed property taxation changes and ‘bright-line’ test. The legislation has now come into force and those changes are in effect; both parties to an Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate dated on or after 1 October 2015 need to be aware of their new obligations.

In this issue

1. Creditors of Insolvent Companies
2. New Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
3. Business Briefs

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FEATURE ARTICLE

The Fences & Kerbs case may help you

As we approach the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in what is known as the Fences & Kerbs case¹ where three appeals were heard and ruled on together by the Supreme Court, we revisit the significance of the decision for creditors of insolvent companies and voidable transactions.

In this issue

1. Be Careful with Long-term Contracts
2. Company or Trust?
3. Over the Fence

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Be Careful with Long-term Contracts

Many contractual relationships last for years and, over time, the parties may forget, or change, their understanding of what was originally agreed.

In this issue

1. Legal Health Check for Businesses
2. Getting your Personal Affairs in Order
3. Teenagers and Alcohol
4. Ensuring Sufficient Feed for Stock When Buying a Farm
5. Postscript

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Legal Health Check for Businesses

Another trading year is almost at an end. You concentrated on increasing business income, you’ve built (or improved) your business systems, you believed in yourself and your product/service and profits have improved.

In this issue

1. Should you change your trustees?
2. Worthy causes
3. Trusts Update

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Should you change your trustees?

If you set up your trust some years ago, it may be time to consider whether the trustees you appointed are still right for the role. Does a trustee wish to retire? Should you consider changing the trustees of your trust?

In this issue [1. Buying Rural Property ] [2. Easements on Rural Land] [3. Over the Fence] Download Entire PDF

FEATURE ARTICLE

BUYING RURAL PROPERTY

When buying any business, assets or property it’s important to undertake a due diligence investigation into what you are looking to buy. If you’re buying rural property, it comes with its own unique set of issues for which you need to take particular care.

In this issue [1. The Changing Course of a River Can Alter Your Boundaries ] [2. Get a Building Report when You’re Buying a New House] [3. Property Briefs] Download Entire PDF

FEATURE ARTICLE

THE CHANGING COURSE OF A RIVER CAN ALTER YOUR BOUNDARIES

When you bought your land, your lawyer will have sent you a search copy of the title to your property as recorded on the register at Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). The LINZ register is generally regarded as being conclusive evidence that you own the land and how much land is included in your title. However, it isn’t always the case – and it wasn’t the situation for the Eldridges when they purchased their farm ‘Stansborough’ in the Wairarapa.

In this issue [1. 40 Business Tips for Every Small and Medium Enterprise] [2. The Rural Lease] [3. Helping your Children into their First Home] [4. “Who Let the Dogs Out?”] [5. Postscript] Download Entire PDF

FEATURE ARTICLE

40 BUSINESS TIPS FOR EVERY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE

Keeping your business in tip-top condition

If there’s a universal principle to remember when getting into business, that one rule might be ‘know what you want to achieve in business.’ Business can be a complex (and at times frustrating) affair, but having clear commercial objectives can be the difference between success and failure. We have 40 tips to keep your business in tip-top condition.

In this issue [1. New Legislation for Builders] [2. Guarantees: Assuming the Risk] [3. Business Briefs] Download Entire PDF

FEATURE ARTICLE

NEW LEGISLATION FOR BUILDERS

More transparency for customers

On 1 January 2015 the Building Amendment Act 2013 came into force. As well as strengthening the consumer protection provisions currently in the Building Act 2004, it also implements new obligations for builders and increases their potential liability. If you work in the building industry, it’s important that you are aware of these changes so you don’t get caught out.

In this issue [1. Residential Building Contracts: Homework important when building] [2. Facebook: Is this your personal property or not?] [3. Property Briefs] Download Entire PDF

FEATURE ARTICLE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONTRACTS: HOMEWORK IMPORTANT WHEN BUILDING

Building a new home can be exciting, as well as being rather daunting. Stories abound of disappointments and building hassles. But it needn’t be like this if you do your homework before starting the build, read and understand the building contract and make sure you get professional advice before you sign the contract...

In this issue [1. The Health and Safety Reform Bill] [2. Business Succession Planning] [3. Good Fences] [4. Family Dispute Resolution] [5. Postscript] Download Entire PDF

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Health and Safety Reform Bill

Be prepared early for significant changes

The Health and Safety Reform Bill heralds the greatest change to health and safety law in over two decades. With the election over, we await the Select Committee Report (due any day) and the continuing passage of the Bill. If you’re in business, this article gives you a snapshot of some of the significant proposed changes.

In this issue [1. Major Revamp of Consumer Law] [2. The Dismissal Process] [3. The Perils of Effluent Discharge] [4. Relationship Property Developments ] [5. Postscript] Download Entire PDF

FEATURE ARTICLE

MAJOR REVAMP OF CONSUMER LAW

Implications for your business

In December last year the Consumer Law Reform Bill passed into law. The legislation incorporates the most significant developments into New Zealand consumer law in more than 20 years. This article looks at how businesses will need to comply with the changes.

The new laws will strengthen consumers’ rights, simplify business compliance and ensure consumer protections are clear and accessible. The changes are also designed to achieve alignment with Australian consumer law by amending several consumer related acts, the Fair Trading Act 1986 (FTA) and the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA). Other changes reflect advances in modern business practices and technology, such as internet and credit card transactions, online auctions, increased selling of extended warranties and sales campaigns conducted via social media, telephone and text.