Gifford Devine - Business briefs

Business briefs

Cartel conduct: New Zealand’s first ever criminal cartel prosecution; New privacy rules for biometrics; New reporting obligations for large businesses

Aerial,Image,Of,White,Island,Whakaari,Active,Volcano,After,Eruption

Whakaari/White Island eruption

The eruption of Whakaari/White Island on 9 December 2019 was a tragedy. The last of the prosecutions brought by WorkSafe due to the eruption concluded on 31 October 2023. We look at the lessons landowners and company directors can learn from these prosecutions.

Gifford Devine - Trial vs probation period

Trial periods vs probation periods

We explain the differences between trial and probation periods to enable you to better understand your options.

Gifford Devine - Property Briefs

Property briefs

First Home Partner scheme: on pause; Council delays for property developers; Short-term accommodation – take care; Election impact on property issues

Gifford Devine - Alternative methods to sell your property

Alternative methods to sell your property

A more buoyant market means that sellers and their real estate agents will be looking to offer alternatives to advertised price, deadline sale or by negotiation methods. We give an overview on how the closed tender and auction processes works.

Gifford Devine - What happens if your builder goes bust?

What happens if your builder goes bust?

Building a new home is an exciting process. It can, however, be quite daunting with risks of unexpected delays, cost increases and, in the worst scenario, your project going completely off the rails. In this article, we discuss how choosing your builder carefully can help to give you some peace of mind as you embark on your build.

Gifford Devine - Business Briefs - 2023

Business briefs

Inside: Lego wins trade mark dispute with Zuru; Start preparing for the Incorporated Societies Act 2022; ESG and directors: the Companies (Directors’ Duties) Amendment Act 2023 now in force

lawyers greet

New retention monies legislation gives better protection

The Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act 2023 was passed on 5 April this year with the legislation coming into effect on Thursday, 5 October 2023.

Gifford Devine - Directorship Issues

Mainzeal decision

Taking on the responsibility of a directorship is not a decision to be taken lightly. For New Zealand directors, the magnitude of the director role has been hammered home with the decision of the Mainzeal case from the Supreme Court in late August

Gifford Devine - Polyamorous Relationships

Polyamorous relationships

In a split decision, the Supreme Court recently confirmed that polyamorous relationships can be divided into two or more qualifying relationships, to which the provisions of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA) can apply.