In late March earlier this year, the Labour Government announced a number of changes regarding the New Zealand housing policy in an attempt to make the housing market more affordable, particularly for first home buyers. This article specifically discusses interest…
The KiwiSaver first home withdrawal and First Home Grants are two completely separate processes. However, if you are eligible, the combination of the two can jump-start the process of buying your first home. The KiwiSaver first home withdrawal allows for…
The new rules around the bright-line test have been hard to miss in recent days, but what do they mean for the average person buying a residential home to live in? The bright-line test has been amended over the years…
There is a presumption often made by the will maker that they can leave the chattels they have to the executors and the family to sort out once they have died. A generic chattels clause is inserted in the will…
In an ever-expanding digital world, we will inevitably find ourselves the victim of some form of harmful digital communication. The definition of a harmful digital communication is ever-increasing, no doubt we have all seen or experienced what is probably the…
The Privacy Act 2020 replaced the Privacy Act 1993, and came into force on 1 December 2020. The exponential change in the use of technology in society since 1993 together with globalisation, was a driving force for the necessarychange to…
The primary and distinctive difference between contracting out and relationship property agreements relates to the timing and status of a relationship between two parties. The definition and status of a relationship as a marriage, de-facto relationship or civil union, under…
With over 34 percent of people in New Zealand renting the property they live in, the passing of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (“the Bill”) has the potential to significantly impact the tenant and landlord relationship; particularly with regard to…
Written by Jacqueline So for NZ Lawyer Magazine 14.10.2020 Greta Melvin also believes that lawyers need to be given more incentive to take legal aid cases For Greta Melvin, the best part of her job as a family law solicitor at…
You hold an activated Enduring Power of Attorney (“EPA”) for property on behalf of a much loved one (knownunder the document as the Donor). Can you (the Attorney) vote on election day for and on behalf of the Donor?Attorneys do…