Changes to 90 Day Trial Periods
On 23 December 2023, the Government changed the use of trial periods in employment agreements so they can now be used by all employers, not just employers with 19 or fewer employees as had formerly been the case. It is important that employers and employees understand the basics rules around trial periods.
Property Management Orders
Where someone is unable to fully manage their property or financial affairs because they are not mentally capable, a property manager can be appointed by the Family Court to look after these things for the person.
'Clean & Tidy' - Leaving a Residential Tenancy
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, when a person’s tenancy ends, they are required to, among other things;
“….leave the premises in a reasonably clean and reasonably tidy condition, and remove or arrange for the removal from the premises of all rubbish.”
The case of the non-compliant swimming pool
The recent decision of Buchanan v Tasman District Council concerned determining whether (and to what extent) a Council could be held liable for a Code Compliance Certificate mistakenly having been issued on multiple occasions for a swimming pool at a residential property.
Hate Speech - What is it?
The term ‘hate speech’ does not appear in any New Zealand legislation. A general definition could be:
Any form of communication that is threatening, abusive or insulting to a serious degree against a group or a member of a group on the basis of a shared characteristic of that group such as religion, national origin, skin colour, race, etc.
