An update from Canterbury Legal

Legalchat - November 2024

Dear *|FNAME|*

We are drifting very quickly towards Christmas and with a number of changes since we last sent out our Legalchat newsletter earlier in the year, we thought it only timely to give you an update!

In April we welcomed Chelsea to the team who took over from Amy. If you have called or come in to meet us in our offices, then Chelsea is one of the first people you will interact with.

Stephen Campbell is our new Litigation Solicitor who has recently joined the team last month. Stephen has specialised in natural disaster insurance law with a focus on dispute resolution and litigation. In his spare time, Stephen is completing his studies towards a Master of Laws with his thesis covering alternative dispute resolution following the Canterbury Earthquakes.

We also welcome Sydney Austin back to the Canterbury Legal team after a two year stint in London where she worked at a Top 50 international law firm in banking and financial litigation, and a boutique specialist insolvency and commercial litigation practice.  

Guide to New Zealand law changes

It is a little over a year since the New Zealand election was held and a new government was formed. As with any new government, there were wide sweeping changes put into motion, starting with the first 100 days in office.

Keeping abreast of all the changes can be hard for people that do not have their mind continually occupied on legal matters - so we compiled a good proportion of changes to help keep track. This does not cover all changes, but at least some of the most notable changes that took place; particularly in those first initial months.

Incorporated Societies Act 2022: Key Changes You Need to Know

Are you part of an incorporated society?

Did you know the biggest changes to incorporated societies legislation in over 115 years is now in place! If you are part of an incorporated society, then you only have limited time to adapt to these changes.

While you may be excused for thinking April 2026 (the deadline date) is well into the future, the reality is these changes need to be confirmed at an AGM. This means that if you haven’t done so already, you may have a lot less time than you actually think!

It is anticipated that there is going to be a bottleneck, as many different incorporated societies rush to adapt to the new requirements later on. This is why we have prepared a complete guide to all the key changes you need to know.

Is the Supreme Court overreaching its role?

A new report from the think tank The NZ Initiative suggests it may be, as recent Supreme Court rulings have stirred concern across legal and political circles.

Two decades after replacing its predecessor, the London-based Privy Council, New Zealand's Supreme Court stands as the nation’s highest court of appeal.

The report claims that the court is overreaching into Parliament's authority, asserting a power to reshape legislation it disagrees with. It argues that Parliament should reaffirm its sovereignty to prevent a shift toward “judicial supremacy.”

One recommendation in the report is to limit Supreme Court judges’ terms to 5–7 years, after which they would return to the Court of Appeal. Currently, judges serve without term limits.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Read more in the ‘Who Makes the Law? Reining in the Supreme Court’ research report from The NZ Initiative.

That is all for now! As always, if you need any help we are always just a phone call or email away. Or, you are most welcome to see us at our office in Christchurch Central!

Keep an eye out on our website, Facebook and Instagram for updates relating to our operating hours as we head into the Christmas holidays.

Regards

Clive, Grant and the Team at Canterbury Legal