The Fair Trading Act 1986 (“the Act”) was enacted to protect consumers from misleading and deceptive trader behaviour and unfair trading practices. As there are many small businesses in New Zealand, it is common practice for a director of the company to be dealing...

Are your Contract Terms Unfair? Businesses that use standard form contracts need to be aware of the recent law changes which came into effect on 16 August 2022 under the Fair Trading Amendment Act 2021.  Pursuant to the new laws, contract terms that are ‘unfair’ may...

In the current lending environment, banks seem to be requiring higher deposits from first home buyers. This, coupled with how quickly house prices have increased in recent times, means that houses have become unaffordable for many first home buyers. This often means...

The Holidays Act 2003 (“Act”) can be a complicated piece of legislation. Many employers still struggle to understand what they need to pay their employees under the nearly 20-year-old Act. Below I tackle some of our commonly asked questions employers have when dealing...

Whether you are a first-time director of a newly formed start-up, or a seasoned director sitting on multiple boards, it can be useful to regularly remind yourself of your director duties. Why is fulfilling your director duties so important? If you breach your duties...

Starting a new business venture with other people can be a very exciting time, filled with good intentions, optimism and possibilities. It is also the perfect time to get your foundation or constitutional documents in order. Whether this is a shareholder’s agreement,...