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Employment relations amendment bill
Posted by Benefitz Admin on April 4 2018
Moves are underway to strengthen rights for employees, collective bargaining and union rights in the workplace In February this year the Government introduced the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to Parliament. The Bill proposes a number of changes to employment law which will affect all... Read the rest of this entry
Does your contract contain unfair terms?
Posted by Benefitz Admin on March 6 2018
The Fair Trading Act introduced provisions which came into force on 17 March 2015 prohibiting any inclusion of unfair contract terms ( unfair terms ) in standard consumer contracts. The new provisions apply to all standard consumer contracts entered into after 17 March 2015 between a business... Read the rest of this entry
NZ trust law to change – What does it mean to you?
Posted by Benefitz Admin on March 6 2018
Trust law in New Zealand is undergoing significant change. The new law will apply to old and new trusts, although there will be a transitional period for existing trusts to adapt to certain parts of the new law. The proposed changes will make trust law more accessible. It will clarify... Read the rest of this entry
New sentencing approach under Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Posted by Benefitz Admin on November 6 2017
The recent decision in Worksafe New Zealand v Rangiora Carpets Ltd provides further guidance on sentencing under Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Rangiora Carpets Limited was prosecuted for health and safety breaches after a worker slipped off the side of a mezzanine and fell through... Read the rest of this entry
Announcing a new appointment: Deanna Clark – Special Counsel
Posted by Benefitz Admin on October 26 2017
Shieff Angland is very pleased to announce the appointment of Deanna Clark as Special Counsel Deanna is widely experienced in property and commercial law. As part of her experience, she spent nine years working in London in the Real Estate teams of multinational law firms doing... Read the rest of this entry
First Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 sentencing demonstrates the new legislation’s teeth
Posted by Benefitz Admin on September 12 2017
Businesses across New Zealand have been awaiting – not without some trepidation – the first sentencing under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. And the result is a significant fine, demonstrating that the Act does indeed have teeth. Budget Plastics Ltd was prosecuted... Read the rest of this entry
MBIE increasing focus on holiday pay records and Pay Equity – What’s next?
Posted by Benefitz Admin on June 22 2017
MBIE – increasing focus on holiday pay – do your systems meet the standards? Increasingly, we are seeing the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Labour Inspectorate undertaking random audits of businesses to check their holidays and leave records. There are... Read the rest of this entry
"He said, she said" - Assessing employee credibility
Posted by Benefitz Admin on April 10 2017
Guidance for employers from the Court of Appeal when faced with two conflicting stories One of the most difficult positions an employer carrying out a disciplinary process can find themselves in is having to decide which employee is most likely telling the truth when their statements of... Read the rest of this entry
Employment Law Update March 2017 – Update your employment agreements
Posted by Benefitz Admin on March 28 2017
Employers have until 1 April 2017 to update their employment agreements. In 2016 changes were made to the Employment Relations Act 2000 regarding zero-hour contracts (called availability provisions), shift cancellations, secondary employment clauses and wage deduction clauses. The... Read the rest of this entry
Announcing a new appointment: Emma Liu
Posted by Benefitz Admin on March 21 2017
As we bid farewell to Raymond Huo (a new Member of Parliament), we welcome Emma Liu – our Asian Practice Development Manager. Since her early post-university training in the city of Shanghai, Emma has traversed successful careers in financial services, marketing and property... Read the rest of this entry
Introducing a new Senior Associate
Posted by Benefitz Admin on February 19 2017
Shieff Angland are pleased to announce the appointment of Shan Langston as Senior Associate. Shan is a member of the firm’s litigation team specialising in commercial litigation. Her experience includes assisting clients in disputes relating to tortious and contractual... Read the rest of this entry
Intellectual Property Scams
Posted by Benefitz Admin on May 4 2016
We have received an increasing amount of letters addressed to our clients that include unsolicited requests for payments to third party scam organisations. These letters target recent trade mark applicants, posing as official “trade mark database” or “government”... Read the rest of this entry
Health and Safety Reform – Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Posted by Benefitz Admin on March 6 2016
Health and Safety Update The Health and Safety Reform Bill has been passed by Parliament and will come into effect on 4 April 2016. The new Act, called the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, provides for a significant overhaul of New Zealand’s health and safety legislation. As... Read the rest of this entry
Employment Law Update September 2015 – Two pieces of employment legislation
Posted by Benefitz Admin on September 7 2015
A package of measures aimed at preventing unfair employment practices such as “zero-hour contracts” was introduced to Parliament on 13 August 2015. Read the rest of this entry
Health and Safety Changes: New draft regulations
Posted by Benefitz Admin on June 18 2015
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has recently released consultation drafts of certain regulations that are to accompany the Health and Safety Reform Bill introduced to parliament in March 2014. Read the rest of this entry
Employment Law Update February 2015 – New Year New Law
Posted by Benefitz Admin on February 26 2015
Changes to the Employment Relations Act 2000 regarding collective bargaining in particular were launched by the last National Government but then shelved in 2013 when National was unable to gain a majority to pass the changes due to the resignation of John Banks. Read the rest of this entry
Introducing 2 new Partners
Posted by Benefitz Admin on February 16 2015
Shieff Angland welcomes two new partners, Raymond Huo and Shelley Eden. Read the rest of this entry
Health and Safety changes: new obligations
Posted by Benefitz Admin on August 12 2014
In March this year the Government introduced the Health and Safety Reform Bill to Parliament. Modelled closely on the Australian Model Work Health and Safety Act, the Bill will replace the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the Machinery Act 1950. With new duties, especially for... Read the rest of this entry
Employment Law Update
Posted by Benefitz Admin on August 12 2014
Paid parental leave entitlements Following the Budget 2014 the Government is set to increase the maximum parental leave payment for eligible parents. Amongst other changes the length of leave eligible parents will be able to take is set to increase in two stages. To be eligible for... Read the rest of this entry
Good trademark news for China traders
Posted by Benefitz Admin on May 12 2014
The long anticipated changes to China’s Trade Mark Law came into effect on 1 May 2014. The newly adopted amendments will be welcomed by many international companies that are either exporting to or from China. China’s Trade Mark System China, like New Zealand, is party to... Read the rest of this entry