When does work start and finish? It seems like an obvious
question but it can be a bit more complicated than you might first
think. For instance, should employees be paid for "pre work"
activities like meetings or changing into protective work gear?
What about after work training?
By Claire Mansell - 15 May 2018
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The storm in Auckland on 10 April
caught many people unaware. Trees caused carnage in many
neighbourhoods - cutting power lines, falling on parked cars and
destroying homes. In fact, many people are now looking at leafy
inner city suburbs with fresh eyes. Could we have been growing our
own 'weapons of mass destruction' all these years?
By Geoff Hardy - 9 May 2018
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A negligent approach to removing asbestos not only puts you at
risk, but also those around you. WorkSafe has identified asbestos
as the single biggest cause of death from work-related disease. On
average about 170 people die in New Zealand every year from
asbestos-related diseases. In April 2016 a two-tiered
licensing system was introduced with new regulations to govern the
identification, management and safe removal and disposal of
asbestos. The transitional period ended on 4 April this year. If
you are planning to get work done (that is more than minor or
routine maintenance work) on a building built prior to 2000, you
must assume that asbestos will be present and be prepared for
significant compliance costs.
By Meika McHardy - 26 Apr 2018 - 1 comment
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Whether you are a builder or a property owner, when you
embark on a building project it is critical that you use a
sophisticated written building contract that covers all the bases.
The days of doing building projects on a handshake are,
unfortunately, long gone.
By Geoff Hardy - 20 Apr 2018 - 4 comments
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It is common practice for directors to operate a company
without paying adequate attention to keeping proper accounting
records. But did you know directors of those companies could be
held personally liable?
By Alden Ho - 13 Apr 2018
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The number of people divorcing aged
50+ is on the increase. These couples are sometimes referred to as
'Silver Splitters'. Life really can begin again at this age, where
you meet someone new and settle down once again. Life may be
wonderful during the honeymoon period and the thought that another
relationship might fail often never enters your mind. Discussions
around money and assets can be seen as unromantic and even
offensive!
By Surendra Bennett - 5 Apr 2018
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In light of the recent sexual harassment scandals coming
out of Hollywood (and closer to home), many people are wondering
whether old fashioned office romances are a thing of the past.
Given that one in five people meet their partner at work, this
could be bad news for singletons.
By Claire Mansell - 3 Apr 2018 - 2 comments
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In a recent decision, the High Court has confirmed that
liquidators can successfully apply for an increase in their hourly
rates from rates that were approved by the Court at the
commencement of the liquidation. In this instance, the original
rates were in a range between $110 to $450 (plus GST). The Court
approved future rates that could be between $140 and $550 (plus
GST).
By Tony Johnson - 22 Mar 2018
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In most cases in litigation, the losing party contributes to the
winning party's costs. The Court awards those costs based on a
'scale' (scale costs). In theory, scale costs are meant to reflect
a reasonable contribution to the actual costs incurred, which is
approximately two-thirds of a party's costs.
By Pierce Bedogni - 15 Mar 2018 - 1 comment
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Not every separation requires a lawyer, especially if you and
your partner are amicable and can resolve things between
yourselves. However, if there are disagreements, a lawyer can help
with practical solutions. We can tell you the steps and timeframes
required during the process and let you know likely outcomes based
on previous case law.
By Surendra Bennett - 15 Jan 2018
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