May 9, 2025
A guid to employment contracts, rights and responsibilities of both employer and employees
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May 7, 2025
An update from Garry Spooner Graduate Scholarship Winners on their first few months on the job at Treadwell Gordon
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May 7, 2025
For rural leases, ensure you have a written agreement in place to protect your interests.
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May 7, 2025
The importance of succession planning, what it is and how to get started
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February 20, 2025
Running a not-for-profit? Discover key strategies for compliance, financial management, governance, fundraising, and more to help your organisation thrive.
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February 20, 2025
Going through a separation? Discover expert advice on staying positive, managing emotions, and planning for the future—especially during the holiday season.
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December 9, 2024
As we approach the end of 2024, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed about the latest updates in child support calculations. Inland Revenue (IRD) has made several adjustments to ensure that child support payments remain fair and reflective of current economic conditions.
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November 17, 2024
Rural employment agreements in New Zealand are more than just legal documents; they are a commitment to fair employment, animal welfare, biodiversity, and sustainable farming practices.
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October 16, 2024
Fairness and recognition of individual contributions are key to resolving inheritance disputes as well as open communication and clear planning within families.
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September 18, 2024
Dealing with rural land leases can be tricky because there are so many different types, each with its own rules and ‘hooks’.
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September 12, 2024
Prospective farm buyers must consider a myriad of factors that can impact the viability and sustainability of their agricultural operation.
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September 2, 2024
Engaging a lawyer early in the succession planning process is a strategic move that adds significant value.
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August 19, 2024
Subdividing your property can be a great way to maximise the value from a large section or area of land.
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August 16, 2024
Creating a will without close family members is still very important to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Here are some steps you can follow to create a will
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August 14, 2024
A big mistake is not including all your assets, which can cause arguments or lead to the wrong people getting things. Make sure to include everything you own and say exactly who should get what to prevent any problems.
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August 12, 2024
Succession planning is crucial not only for the longevity of your business, whether it's a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a farming operation, but also for securing your family's future
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August 9, 2024
When hiring workers, whether on a permanent, fixed-term, or casual basis, you are legally required to have a written individual employment agreement. This includes
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June 12, 2024
In unit title ownership, which is very common in multi-owner buildings like apartments, you own your individual unit plus a share of communal areas. Additionally, you're part of a body corporate responsible for managing these shared spaces and setting regulations, which requires that you follow its rules and payment of associated fees.
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June 14, 2024
The Brightline test, an essential element of property tax law, has been significantly updated. This test determines if profits from selling residential properties are taxable. Starting 1 July 2024, it will only apply if a property is sold within two years of purchase.
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June 17, 2024
We consider trusts to be a key component in any estate planning, serving as a tool to safeguard assets, manage wealth, and guarantee that beneficiaries are granted their rightful inheritance, in accordance with the wishes of the settlors—the individuals who establish the trust.
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June 19, 2024
Commercial conveyancing is an important aspect of business operations for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It can include offices, shops, industrial units, or any other type of commercial premises.
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April 12, 2024
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
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
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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February 16, 2024
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 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
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, 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
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
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
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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August 23, 2023
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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August 7, 2023
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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August 1, 2023
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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July 27, 2023
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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July 17, 2023
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
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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June 26, 2023
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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June 9, 2023
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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June 1, 2023
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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May 29, 2023
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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April 20, 2023
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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May 13, 2021
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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April 29, 2021
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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April 22, 2021
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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April 15, 2021
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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April 1, 2021
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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March 18, 2021
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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March 11, 2021
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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March 8, 2021
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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March 4, 2021
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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March 1, 2021
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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