Read the latest news, articles
and clients stories from Bramwell Bate.

It’s our job to know the law. We stay at the top
of our game so you can stay at the top of yours.

December 13, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Making building more affordable

As part of the Government’s commitment to increase the supply of affordable housing, the Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill (Bill) was introduced to Parliament. Its purpose being to remove barriers to new building materials entering our market, resulting in more competitively priced products and greater resilience to supply disruptions. This follows on from a Commerce Commission market study (2022) into residential building supplies, which found a lack of competition in the supply and acquisition of key...

December 9, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Roadside drug driver testing

Roadside testing to deter drug driving looks to be back on again with the Government’s Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill (Bill) passing its first reading in August. Underlining the need for a workable solution, the Bill’s explanatory note reveals that between 2019-2022, on average 30% of road deaths each year involved crashes where drivers had consumed impairing drugs. The previous government passed legislation in 2022 to enable police to carry out a roadside oral fluid test (OFT) for drugs. However,...

December 6, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Divorce law amended for victims of family violence

In another display of cross-party agreement, the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Act (Amendment Act) was passed into law in October this year, and will come into force in October 2025. The purpose of this legislation is to reduce the harm caused by family violence in marriage or civil union relationships. It amends the Family Proceedings Act 1980 to allow for a marriage or civil union to be dissolved where a party in the...

November 21, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Improvements to enable more remote participation in courts

In September this year the Courts (Remote Participation) Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament. As an omnibus Bill it made changes to two Acts, with two amendments to the Courts (Remote Participation) Act (CRPA) and one to the Criminal Procedure Act. The purpose of the amendments is to clarify and improve the law governing remote participation to enable more remote participation in court proceedings using both audio-only links (audio link) and audiovisual technology. The changes to the CRPA are expected to increase...

October 4, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Do you need a Trust?

Written by Anna Bernie  Originally published in The Profit  It’s no secret that Kiwi’s have long loved trusts. It is estimated that there are currently between 300,000 and 500,000 trusts in New Zealand. But why the obsession? And is there still the same love for trusts that there once was? Trusts have always been a useful tool for asset protection and estate planning. Asset Protection Historically, one of the most commons reasons for setting up a trust was to protect assets from creditors and relationship...

July 26, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Navigating the Family Court

Written by Damandeep Sadhra & Bri Thorne Have you recently separated? Are you struggling to communicate effectively with your former partner? Are your children struggling with the separation? Do you feel that you are not getting as much time with your children as you would like? Are you concerned about the effect it is having on them? If you are a parent, guardian, or whānau member reading this, and it sounds like something you are going through, below is a summary of...

July 25, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Part-Time Employees’ Sick Leave Entitlements will be reduced with proposed changes to the Holidays Act

Written by Lois McLintock  In June, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, announced the government’s plans to amend the Holidays Act 2003. The Holidays Act 2003 (“the Act”) governs employee’s entitlements to annual and public holidays, sick leave, bereavement leave, and family violence leave. The Act has long been subject to criticism from both National and Labour governments, and legislation has been drafted in the past in the hope of amending the Act to ensure it is fit...

June 13, 2024 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

But that’s what we agreed …

Written by Nick Aveling Originally published in The Profit A wise and respected local businessman once gave my father some sage advice which he has often repeated: “You are a fool if you do not understand what you are signing”. Not so long ago a handshake and a discussion of the broad terms of an agreement were often enough to create a lasting and workable arrangement. Whether or not you have a written contract or a verbal agreement, in this increasingly...