Resources and Newsletters

April 12, 2024

Directors’ rights and obligations

Are you a director of your own company or some other company? Do you know and understand your rights and obligations?Many directors of small private companies don’t fully understand what the role encompasses. We explain what being a director means for you.As a director, you are appointed to manage the company’s business and affairs.

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April 16, 2024

We’re buying our first home – what happens on settlement day?

You’ve bought your first home and are very excited but also nervous. Settlement day is looming but what happens on that day?Settlement day is your final step in buying a residential property in New Zealand. On this day, you pay the balance of the purchase price to the seller and the property becomes yours.

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April 18, 2024

Do I really need a will?

A will is a vital document that protects your assets and your family. It tells the law how you want your estate - your money, property, and personal items - to be divided when you pass away. It also lets you choose a person or organisation to manage your estate and follow your directions.

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Treadwell Gordon February eNewsletter

February 1, 2024

February eNewsletter

Our full February eNewsletter

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Treadwell Gordon December eNewsletter

December 1, 2023

December eNewsletter

Our full December eNewsletter

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Treadwell Gordon October eNewsletter

October 2, 2023

October eNewsletter

Our full October eNewsletter

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February 16, 2024

Relationship Property – What is it?  

Relationship property is the property that is shared between partners when a relationship ends. The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 is the law that governs how the property of couples who are married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship is divided.

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February 1, 2024

Buying or selling a business

Buying or selling a business can be a complex and lengthy process that requires careful preparation, and professional advice for you to achieve a successful outcome. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you need to understand the process, the legal requirements, and the risks involved. Here are some key steps to consider when buying or selling a business.

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January 19, 2024

We are a full-service firm

As a full-service law firm, we offer comprehensive legal services for clients across various sectors and industries. Whether you need advice, representation, or litigation, we have the expertise and experience to handle your legal matters effectively and efficiently.

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December 13, 2023

Treadwell Gordon fostering legal talent in their own backyard

Treadwell Gordon, the largest and oldest law firm in the Whanganui, Rangitikei, South Taranaki and Waimarino regions, has announced the inaugural winners of their newly launched scholarship programme. The firm is proud to introduce Zeah Brewer, Amelia Bryant and Emelye Brown as the recipients of the 2023 Treadwell Gordon – Garry Spooner Scholarship.

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November 8, 2023

Pro-bono services – what does that mean? 

As lawyers, we know how important it is to have access to quality legal services, especially when you are facing a challenging situation. However, we also understand that not everyone can afford to hire a lawyer, particularly a lot of the not-for-profit organisations in New Zealand. Not-for-profit organisations don’t operate for profit

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October 10, 2023

How is Child Support calculated?

Child support is money paid by parents who do not live with their children, or who share care with someone else. In New Zealand, child support can be managed by Inland Revenue (IRD) through a formula assessment or a voluntary agreement, or by the parents themselves through a private agreement. The amount of child support depends on the income, living costs and care arrangements of both parents, as well as the cost of raising a child.

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October 26, 2023

The adoption and surrogacy process in New Zealand

Adoption and surrogacy are two ways of forming a family when natural conception isn’t possible. Both have complex and sensitive issues that require careful planning and preparation, and involve ethical, legal, medical, social, and emotional aspects that affect all parties involved.

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green ferns

August 23, 2023

Resource Management Act Reform

The Government has proposed repealing the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and replacing it with new pieces of legislation that are designed to transform the way the environment is managed by speeding up and simplify planning processes, reducing costs, and delivering better outcomes for people and the environment.

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water droplet making a splash in blue water

August 7, 2023

The freshwater framework for water rights and the Three Waters reform programme

The freshwater management framework for water rights is a set of policies, regulations, and processes that govern how freshwater in New Zealand can be used, allocated, and protected. Here are some of the key components of the framework.

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green lush paddocks with hills and forest in the background with a blue and cloudy sky

August 1, 2023

What to consider in a rural land lease

Rural land leases are legally binding agreements between landowners and tenants that allow the tenants to use the land for agricultural purposes, such as grazing, cropping, or horticulture, in exchange for rent or other forms of compensation. Rural land leases can vary in terms of duration, terms, and conditions, depending on the needs and preferences of the parties involved.

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contract-signing

July 27, 2023

Rural lending and all those funny words

GSA, DOPAS, priority amounts, un-drawn facility fee, negative pledge, establishment fee, CARL, facility, pre-approved equipment finance facilities – these are just some of the abbreviations and terms used by rural lenders. Both the application of and meaning of these terms often confuse borrowers, guarantors, accountants and even lawyers.

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a pair of safety googles lying on top of a bound white booklet with the words health and safety written on it

July 17, 2023

Health and Safety Responsibilities as an Employer

As an employer, you have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of your workers and anyone else who may be affected by your work activities. This duty is set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), which is the main legislation governing workplace health and safety in New Zealand.

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July 7, 2023

The importance of getting employment agreements right

In New Zealand, every employee must have a written employment agreement. They contain the fundamental terms and conditions of the employment relationship. A copy should be provided to the employee and you, as employer should also keep a copy. So, what are these fundamental terms and conditions that the employment agreement should cover - what needs to be in them and how you can protect yourself and your staff?

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a piece of rolled up paper being passed between two outstretched hands

June 26, 2023

Succession Planning – What is it and why do you need it?

You’ve built a successful business with significant assets, knowledge and skills, but how and when do you pass these on? Many business owners don’t think about this until they’re ready to retire or sell but this is not just an issue to think of for your retirement as illness or death can strike at any time. You want your business to have a planned future that will provide financial security for your family and leave a legacy for future generations.

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Does the Brightline Tax apply to me?

June 9, 2023

Does the Brightline Tax apply to me?

You own property, maybe investment property or property you use for business and personal use. You’ve heard of bright-line tax and you know the criteria has changed, but what does this mean to you – are you affected?

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What is an Enduring Power of Attorney and why might I need one?

June 1, 2023

What is an Enduring Power of Attorney and why might I need one?

If you’re thinking about creating an enduring power of attorney (EPA), you need to understand why they’re necessary and that they need to be in place before you need to use them.

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Selling your first house? A helpful guide to make this journey easier

May 29, 2023

Selling your first house? A helpful guide to make this journey easier

When you are selling, or buying, a property you are probably dealing with your most valuable asset, so it’s important to do it right and very important to understand the legal procedures involved.

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Common Pitfalls of Wills

April 20, 2023

Common Pitfalls of Wills

Where there is a Will, there is a way. At least, that is what we would like to think when documenting what we want to happen to us after we die.

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Who's your daddy?

May 13, 2021

Who's your daddy?

Paternity. It is an issue which is often questioned, but less frequently explored. What can you do if you doubt your paternal link to a child, and mum is not interested in allowing DNA testing to take place? Or if you need financial assistance from your child's father, but he is refusing to accept that he is daddy?

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Dealing with lawyers 101 - tips for effective relationships

April 29, 2021

Dealing with lawyers 101 - tips for effective relationships

Bad lawyer jokes have been around since time immemorial. On the whole though, and certainly in New Zealand, the reality is a far cry from the jokes, and the experience for clients who deal with us should generally be a positive one.

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Preserving Your Safety

April 22, 2021

Preserving Your Safety

Having the ability to protect yourself and your family from physical harm can be taken for granted.However, in New Zealand almost half of all homicides are committed by a person who is identified as a family member of the victim.

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What to do when a trustee loses capacity

April 15, 2021

What to do when a trustee loses capacity

Discretionary family trusts are a popular form of asset protection in New Zealand. Based on Ministry of Justice data, there are somewhere between 300,000 and 500,000 family trusts in the country. Over time, many of these trusts have had to address what to do when a trustee loses, or appears to lose, the capacity to perform his or her functions as a trustee. The issue is amplified by New Zealand’s ageing population and corresponding increase in related diseases such as dementia.

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Changing employment agreements and Covid-19

April 1, 2021

Changing employment agreements and Covid-19

In a quickly changing world, it is difficult to ensure that employment arrangements stay relevant and continue to meet the varying needs of businesses. It is common for employers to want to amend the various terms and conditions of an employee’s employment to better suit their circumstances or when a new issue arises – perhaps hours, wages, location of work , or the need to be vaccinated following a pandemic.

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Stricter rules for privacy protection

March 18, 2021

Stricter rules for privacy protection

Privacy concerns all of us in everyday life. Whether it be the songs you sing to in the shower, how any times you have looked at an ex's Facebook profile, or how much money you spent online shopping over lockdown. However, that is not the type of privacy the law is generally concerned with.

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Work safe liability rears its head once again for farmers

March 11, 2021

Work safe liability rears its head once again for farmers

Health and safety on farms is not a new issue, but it is always worth reminding those in the sector of their responsibilities and the penalties for non-compliance.

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Seven years’ bad luck – cartel criminalisation comes into force

March 8, 2021

Seven years’ bad luck – cartel criminalisation comes into force

Collusion. Bid rigging. Price fixing. Market allocation. Output restriction. Cartel conduct.Whatever name you give it, as of today, entering into or giving effect to any agreement with your competitors where you agree not to compete with each other could land you in prison.

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90 days no more! Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986

March 4, 2021

90 days no more! Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986

There have been big changes to residential tenancy laws in the last few weeks, coming on the back of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act passed last August.

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Handshake leases – She’ll be right?

March 1, 2021

Handshake leases – She’ll be right?

It is not uncommon in the rural industry for decades long farming arrangements such as leases to be made on a ‘handshake’. A good faith arrangement between neighbours, friends and family will continue to work as good as gold for years until suddenly it doesn’t.

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