Amendment to Health and Safety at Work Act
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill is now before Parliament, and, if passed, this legislation would mark the most significant reform of New Zealand’s health and safety regime since 2016. The Government says the Bill is intended to reduce unnecessary compliance costs by sharpening the focus on critical risks, clarifying grey areas, and […]
Repeal of the Holidays Act 2003
A new Employment Leave Bill has been introduced to replace the Holidays Act 2003, with the new regime expected to take effect in 2028 after a year’s transition period. The proposed reforms are aimed at simplifying one of New Zealand’s most difficult employment law regimes, which has been notoriously hard for employers to apply in […]
Are Employment Disputes Taking Too Long? MBIE Calls for Feedback
Employment disputes are rarely resolved quickly. Before a matter can be heard Employment Relations Authority, parties will usually need to go through MBIE (the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) mediation first. Right now, that means waiting around 3 to 4 months just to get a mediation date. Even then, the process is not fast. […]
Shifting unemployment rates: What this means for employers
Recent Stats NZ figures show unemployment sitting at around 5.3% in March 2026. Although the unemployment rate has not shifted dramatically since last quarter, it remains well above the 3.5% recorded three years in the March 2023 quarter, and is still sitting at one of the highest rates since briefly around September 2020 and prior, […]
How do compensation claims affect property settlements?
A recent High Court decision, Reid v Omana North Limited [2026] NZHC 92, provides clarification on how clause 10 of the ADLS/REINZ Agreement for Sale and Purchase (“the Agreement”) operates when purchasers pursue a compensation claim. The case arose from the collapse of a $3.4 million Auckland apartment purchase, with disputes centring on settlement timing, […]
Court of Appeal clarifies HSWA liability for trusts and trustees
The Court of Appeal has released its decision in RH & JY Trust v WorkSafe New Zealand [2026] NZCA 12, confirming that trusts, as well as trustees acting collectively, can be prosecuted as a “person” under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (“HSWA”). This ruling provides clarity for businesses that operate through trust […]
When the Price No Longer Stacks Up: How NZ Contractors Can Deal with Fuel and Freight Disruption
Geopolitical instability in the Middle East is driving fuel prices higher and freight costs through the roof. For the New Zealand construction industry, we sit at the end of long supply chains, where diesel is embedded in almost everything we do. If you are holding a fixed-price contract and watching your margins compress, there are […]
The New Standard: Key changes to the Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate
The Law Association (“TLANZ”) and the Real Estate Institute (“REINZ”) have released a new version of the standard Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate(“ASPRE”) and the Sale of Real Estate by Tender (“SRET”). The new ASPRE and SERT addresses changes to New Zealand’s privacy landscape under the Privacy Amendment Act 2025 (“PAA”), which […]
Are Contractors Liable for Defective Building Materials in New Zealand?
n New Zealand, contractors who supply and install materials for residential building work may still be liable if those materials fail, even if they did not manufacture or design them. Under the Building Act 2004 and the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, contractors can be responsible for ensuring supplied materials are fit for purpose, durable, and […]
The Rise of EPC in New Zealand Infrastructure
EPC contracts are becoming more common in New Zealand infrastructure projects, especially in energy, utilities, and complex industrial developments. Under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, one contractor is responsible for delivering a fully operational project, usually for a fixed price and with strict performance obligations. This model offers owners greater cost certainty and […]