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April 1, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Changes to My Vaccine Pass Requirements and QR code scanning come into effect from 4 April 2022

The Government has announced the removal of the My Vaccine Pass and QR code scanning from Monday 4th of April 2022. First, vaccine mandates will be lifted from a number of workforces. Only health and disability, aged care, prison staff, and border and MIQ workers will be required to be vaccinated. These remaining mandates are targeted at protecting those most vulnerable from the virus and creating a barrier against new variants coming from overseas. Employees who lost their jobs due to the...

Bramwell Bate Trrees
March 21, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Understand legislation changes to land before acting

First published in The Profit. Written by Amy Cowan. A hot topic for many years has been the house market. Specifically, how the Government has attempted to create affordable housing for those priced out of the market. The most recent of these is the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 and the proposed repeal and replacement of the Resource Management Act. Hastings and Napier District Councils will be required to review their existing District Plans to determine where and how...

March 11, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Government Announces Practical Amendments to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act

Written by Lois McLintock In December 2019, the Government’s amendments to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 were implemented. These changes required lenders to follow a more robust investigation process to ensure any potential lending would be suitable and affordable for prospective borrowers.  The intention of this was to protect those borrowers who may find themselves taking out high-cost loans and creating unaffordable debt. Following ongoing feedback from banks, other lenders, and consumers, that a number of  borrowers that...

Bramwell Bate Hills
January 19, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Government Introduces Further Amendments to Overseas Investment Rules

The Government introduced a number of amendments to the Overseas Investment Act 2005 (the OIA) on 24 November 2021, following several incremental amendments implemented throughout 2021. The OIA governs overseas investment in sensitive land, significant business assets and fishing quota, and recent reforms aim to support and attract quality overseas investors whilst managing risk. Three key recent amendments relate to the sale of farm land, the sale of fresh or seawater areas and the “benefit to New Zealand” test. 1.   Sale of...

Bramwell Bate Landscape
January 10, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

The Wills Act: What does it mean?

The Wills Act 2007 (“Act”) governs how wills should be prepared, executed, amended and administered. The Act was introduced to make the law around wills easier to understand, with a single reference point rather than spread over different statutes. An overview of the Act is outlined below. The Act applies to the wills of people who die on or after 1 November 2007 regardless of when the will was executed. However, s 40 of the Act provides guidance on which...

December 20, 2021 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Tenants in common: when only one wants to sell

Property Sharing Agreements are becoming more prevalent as individuals seek certainty of outcomes, where unforeseen circumstances intervene after property purchases. The form of property ownership known as ‘tenancy in common’ is becoming more popular due to this. This form of ownership enables an individual to have control over their share of the property they are a part owner of, to the extent that they can decide who they wish to take over their share in the event they die or...

December 17, 2021 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Family Protection Act: Claims and Dates

The Family Protection Act 1955 (“FPA”) becomes relevant under either a will or intestacy (where a deceased dies without a will in place) in circumstances where a claimant does not consider that they have been appropriately provided for under the deceased’s estate. Proper maintenance and support is the test, which is a wide and general phrase. So, who can make a claim under the FPA? A spouse or civil union partner of the deceased is at the top of the...

December 14, 2021 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Trial vs. Probationary Periods: What’s the difference?

Trial and probationary periods look very similar and are used for similar reasons but they are fundamentally different. The main differences are set out in this article. Probationary periods - Section 67 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (“the Act”) provides that a probationary period must be specified in writing in the employment agreement and that the application of the law of unjustified dismissal applies in the situation where an employee is dismissed under the probationary period. In other words, the...