Legal Insights & News, Bramwell Bate Lawyers

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June 30, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Small Trade Contracts: What you need to know moving forward

Written by Edward Bostock and Tayla Westman Originally published in The Profit The Fair Trading Amendment Act 2021 comes into force in August 2022 and this will place new obligations on businesses while providing new protections for consumers and small businesses. The key change is that “standard form small trade contracts” will now be subject to the unfair contract principle. To understand the significance of this change we first need to identify what constitutes a “small trade contract”? A small trade contract will...

June 20, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Government Announces Changes to Kainga Ora First Home Loan and First Home Grant

Written by Lois McLintock Home ownership has just become more achievable for New Zealanders following an announcement as part of the 2022 Budget, which come into effect over this month. The Kāinga Ora First Home Loan and First Home Grant will undergo a number of changes that will make owning a home more accessible for a number of Kiwis who haven’t yet had the opportunity to purchase their first home. Changes for first time home buyers House price caps for the First Home Grant...

June 16, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

A Century in the Making: The New Incorporated Societies Legislation

Written by Kevin Osborne & Tayla Westman The law governing Incorporated Societies contained in the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 has not been reviewed for over a century. It is now time for this Act to rise to the modern occasion and following Royal Assent in April, it is expected that the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022 will be in effect by the end of this year. The Minister responsible, David Clark, explains that the new legislation is designed “to put in place...

May 4, 2022 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Bramwell Bate partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand: Tuakana Teina

  We are thrilled to be partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. The programme supports nearly 1,000 children throughout the country every year by providing mentors to children facing challenges in the community; helping them work towards gaining their full potential. The volunteers are positive adult role models that aim to equip our kids to be happy, healthy, and better connected to local communities. Big Brothers Big Sisters relies entirely on community support and donations to ensure they provide a well-trained...

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...