Newsletter service / Blog content

Foodstuffs’ facial recognition trial – provides background to the trial, the reasons for it, what is planned, and the response from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

E-waste and the right to repair – looks into the part extending the life of products can play in reducing e-waste and the use of resources, what European countries are doing, and touches on what’s happening here.

De facto relationship or not? – relates the outcome and circumstances of an unusual Taxation Review Authority case, in which a Working for Families Tax Credit was exploited.

Noisy neighbours – what can you do? – gives a brief outline on what are your rights with regard to ‘excessive noise’ and what recourse you have to address the situation.

Fast-track consenting regime – this article looks into the Fast-track Approvals Bill that would establish a one-stop-shop consenting regime to speed up the approvals process for major infrastructure and develop projects. It outlines how projects would access the regime and the process involved.

Repairs to rental properties not deductible – reviews a technical decision summary issued by Inland Revenue which involved a dispute regarding whether renovation work on a residential rental properties was ordinary repairs and maintenance or improvements (capital in nature). The article presents the facts Inland Revenue considered in coming to their decision.

Gangs Legislation Amendment Bill – summarises four key changes the Bill would introduce, in response to the growth in gang membership and associated crime and public intimidation, to make it harder for gangs to operate and to disincentive membership. Points from the Attorney-General’s report on the Bill’s human rights implications are also included.

Insurance contract law reform – provides an overview of some of the important changes the Government’s Contracts of Insurance Bill would enact to modernise our insurance law and make contracts more readily understandable and fairer for the policyholder.

Residential tenancies amendments – provides background to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and a summary of the key changes proposed, including changes to notice periods for landlords and tenants and a new ‘pet bond’ to incentivise landowners to accept tenants with pets.

Customer and Product Data Bill – looks into the changes proposed that would give consumers greater control over the data held on them and its use, with view to unlocking its potential to create new products and services that benefit consumers and open up markets to increased competition.

Revised Three Strikes sentencing regime – summarises the principle elements of the Three Strikes regime (first enacted in 2010 and repealed by Labour in 2022), and the modifications proposed in the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill to revise the previous legislation.

New consent path for OI in Build-To-Rent housing – gives a brief background on the Overseas Investment Act 2005 to provide context for the changes proposed in the Overseas Investment (Build-to-rent and Similar Rental Developments) Amendment Bill, which aims to improve housing supply and the rental market by reducing barriers to overseas investment in large scale rental developments.

Making building more affordable – looks at proposed amendments to the Building Act to open our market to new overseas building materials resulting in more competitively priced products.

Remote participation in courts – gives an overview of amendments enacted to enable more remote participation in court procedures and to improve court backlogs.

Divorce law amended for victims of family violence – outlines key changes aimed at reducing the harm caused by family violence in marriage or civil union relationships.

Changes to Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa – reviews changes enacted to clarify and tighten eligibility for the visa, to better focus it on exploitative behaviour.