Who will be responsible on the farm?
“Last year we wrote an article that summarised the Report of the Independent Task Force on workplace health and safety.
Responsibility in the rural sector
One of the issues that the rural sector faces is clarity as to whose responsibility health and safety might be given the way that many rural businesses are structured and...
Minimum wage order change
The minimum wage order has been changed to include a fortnightly minimum wage rate; it became effective on 26 June 2014. This change affects salaried employees on fortnightly rosters.
Animal Welfare (Dairy Cattle) Code of Welfare 2010 has been revoked
The Animal Welfare (Dairy Cattle) Code of Welfare 2010 has been revoked and replaced by a new Code which came into force on 13 June 2014.
All Trustees Must Sign when Dealing with Trust Assets
“When establishing a family trust that usually owns your family home and some investments, the usual ‘mum and dad’ trust has you and your partner as trustees, together with an...
Paper Roads and Public Access
“Paper roads are relatively widespread across New Zealand farmland. They are more precisely called ‘unformed legal roads’ and have the same legal status as any other legal road.
Joint tenancy v tenancy in common
The first option, and the most common form of ownership, is known as a ‘joint tenancy’.
Relationship property update: 30/70 asset split
After we had put this Winter edition together, a High Court decision2 was delivered in a relationship property situation involving a Wellington medical specialist and his wife.
Key Considerations for Employee Share Schemes
Employee share schemes can be a great way to attract, retain and incentivise staff. They haven’t been widely used in New Zealand, with a big part of the problem being...
Director’s Drawings
“If you are a company director it’s tempting, particularly in a closely held company, to withdraw funds for expenses and to pay yourself as and when you decide that you...