Privacy Amendment Bill changes the requirements for the indirect collection of personal information

Written by Nick Aveling and Dan Barclay  The new Privacy Amendment Bill (“Bill”) proposes changes to the Privacy Act 2020, by introducing changes to enhance transparency when personal information is collected indirectly. This would better enable individuals to exercise their privacy rights when their personal information is being shared from a third-party source to an agency. This bill aims to align New Zealand’s privacy laws with international best practices. The change is important as currently there is no requirement for an organisation...

Cyclone Gabrielle: an update on the response to the damaging effects of the Hawke’s Bay flooding

Written by Kevin Osborne and Dan Barclay  It has been 2 years since Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in 2023 caused widespread damage to the Hawke’s Bay region. Whilst people in residential areas are recovering more effectively, rural landowners across the region are still suffering from widespread effects of the Cyclone. Orders under the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Act (SWERLA) 2023 were made in June 2024 with the Hawke’s Bay Flood Protection Works and the Resource Management-Hawke’s Bay Rural...

Disputes Tribunal Amendment Bill: Potential Change to the Access of Civil Justice in New Zealand

Written by Dan Barclay A Bill proposing to increase the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed its first reading in Parliament during November 2024. Many people are often deterred from pursuing claims as they cannot afford to take it to the District Court or the fees of going to Court exceed the value of claim they are pursuing. The proposed increase to the value of a claim allows for these claimants to have their case heard,...