New Zealand entered alert level 2 at 11.59 pm last night
and with that change, most businesses will be able to open their
doors to customers for the first time in six weeks. Schools are
also set to welcome back students as of Monday 18 May. While
the relaxation of restrictions are welcome, we are not entirely out
of the woods yet. Businesses and schools will have strict health
and safety management plans in place to reduce the potential spread
of COVID-19. For some people, this will mean they cannot attend
work/school if they are unwell, or until they have been tested and
cleared for the virus.
By Aimee Elia - 14 May 2020
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With the prospect of transitioning to
level 2 on the horizon, many people will now be contemplating
returning to work albeit under somewhat changed circumstances.
Naturally, there will be some concerns around risk management of
the COVID-19 virus when employees are engaging with members of the
public and fellow employees.
By Aimee Elia - 11 May 2020
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On Friday, 1 May 2020, the Government announced changes to the
operation of the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme (BFGS). As
readers might recall, the BFGS was introduced as part of its
initial economic approach to the COVID-19 response. The specific
change announced was that it would no longer be a Government
requirement that a bank which was making a loan of more than
$50,000 under the scheme would have to take security against the
debtor's default by way of a General Security Agreement (security
over all of the assets of a debtor in the event of a loan default)
- although a bank is still entitled to ask for security if it
wishes to do so.
By Bill Gambrill - 6 May 2020
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We are delighted to announce that Tim Orr has joined the
partnership.
By Melissa Higham - 4 May 2020
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Martelli McKegg would like to congratulate Jacque
Lethbridge, Partner in Litigation for being elected to the Board of
the New Zealand Law Society as the Vice-President for
Auckland.
By Mike Worsnop - 23 Apr 2020
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Property owners and builders alike will have welcomed the
Government announcement this week that the country will move to
Alert Level 3 on 28 April, meaning that most on-site construction
work can begin again from that date. The initial joy (and relief)
of this news, however, will be quickly tempered by the realisation
that it is not going to be business as usual for some time
yet.
By Meika McHardy - 22 Apr 2020
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The law has long required that wills be signed by the
will-maker in the presence of two witnesses. The Covid-19 lockdown
and mandatory distancing rules has prevented some wills from being
signed this way, especially where people live alone or with only
one other adult.
By Andrew Steele - 21 Apr 2020
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The Covid-19 lockdown and mandatory distancing rules prevented
affidavits and declarations from being signed 'in person' or before
a solicitor.
By Andrew Steele and Jacque Lethbridge - 20 Apr 2020
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The Government has announced that most, but not all,
businesses can start to open when we shift to Alert Level 3. The
businesses that do open must take health measures to keep their
workers safe and workers must work from home if they can.
Retail and hospitality businesses can only open for delivery and
contactless pre-ordered pick up. Businesses cannot offer services
which involve face to face contact or sustained close contact (e.g.
hair-dressing).
By Andrew Skinner - 17 Apr 2020
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On Friday, 3 April 2020, the Government announced
significant insolvency law changes in response to the likely
economic impact of COVID-19 and the current lockdown (https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/further-measures-support-businesses
). The Government will amend the Companies Act 1993 to
provide additional comfort to directors of companies during the
next six months, and will also introduce "Covid-19 Business Debt
Hibernation" as an option to help businesses survive the
deterioration in the business environment (https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/insolvency-relief-for-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19/
). Parliament will have to pass legislation to give effect to
the proposed changes, although the proposed legislation has not
been made public.
By Jacque Lethbridge and Bill Gambrill - 5 Apr 2020
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