The Environment Protection Authority advises that a hearing will be held on Friday, 18 May 2012, at the Marlbroough Convention Centre, Blenheim, on an application for a modified reassessment of the herbicide Taskforce. Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearing, but only those who have made a submission ... More about EPA hearing on Taskforce in Blenheim.
Marlborough lawyers have the opportunity to participate in a special one-hour webinar aimed at clarifying the complex issues around rural succession planning. Succession Planning for Rural Practitioners will be presented on 8 June for one hour from 11:00am. It will look at how practitioners who advise agricultural families can help guide ... More about Guiding your clients through rural succession planning.
The Law Society's legal education company NZLS CLE Ltd is planning two webinars to give Marlborough lawyers valuable information on new and planned legislation. Webinars enable anyone - no matter where they are located - to hear presentations on a particular topic, view PowerPoint slides and type in questions ... More about Webinars offer chance to learn about new legislation.
A 150-minute videoconference to update property lawyers on developments in the Property Law Act 2007 is to be held in Blenheim on 1 May 2012. The videoconference is being run by the New Zealand Law Society’s continuing legal education arm, NZLS CLE Ltd. It will be held in Blenheim if a minimum ... More about Update on Property Law Act heading to Blenheim.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 6 active claims covering 6 properties in the Marlborough region at 8 January 2012. The Department has received 6691 claims lodged for 9329 properties and completed assessments for 10, 204 properties nationally. Under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service ... More about 6 leaky building claims in Marlborough region.
Southern Region Supreme Court Closes: 5pm, Friday 23 December Opens: 9am, Monday 9 January Court of Appeal Closes: 3pm, Friday 23 December Opens: 9am, Monday 9 January High Courts Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Greymouth, Invercargill, Masterton, Nelson, Timaru, Wellington Close: 5pm, Friday 23 December Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January District Courts Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Greymouth, Invercargill, Nelson, ... More about Court holiday dates, Christmas-New Year 2011-12.
Register of the High Court John Earles will present a seminar Probates, Letters of Administration – Quest for the Perfect Application. It will be held in Blenheim, for lawyers and legal executives on Wednesday 14 December, 1-4pm, Gascoigne Wicks Boardroom, 79 High Street, Blenheim. Cost: $40. Payment can be made by direct credit ... More about Probates, letters of administration – seminar .
The Marlborough Branch is hosting a cocktail party at Melrose House, Brougham Street, Nelson. Nelson practitioners have also been invited to join the festivities. It is an occasion for socialites to socialise and mingle. Champagne cocktails, delicious finger food, cash bar. When: Saturday 5 November, 6.30-8.30pm Where: $55.00 per person (refunds ... More about Marlborough branch cocktail party.
The Nelson Branch invites Marlborough Branch practitioners to a cocktail party at Melrose House, Brougham Street, Nelson. It is an occasion for socialites to socialise and mingle. There will be champagne cocktails, delicious finger food, and a cash bar. When: Saturday 5 November, 6.30-8.30pm Cost: $55.00 per person (refunds not available ... More about Marlborough practitioners invited to Nelson Branch Cocktail Party.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 7 active claims covering 7 properties in the Marlborough branch region at 30 September 2011. This was one property (and active claim) down since 2 August. As at 30 September 2011 the Department has received 6582 claims lodged for 9077 properties ... More about Seven leaky building claims in Marlborough region.
Marlborough practitioners are invited to a free public lecture presented by the School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington. Dr Gina Grimshaw Senior Lecturer will give a lecture on: Why so blue? Understanding vulnerability to depression. Professor Maryanne Garry will talk on: Your memory is really bad – and that’s ... More about Seminar: depression, and poor memory .
The Marlborough Regional Council processed 95% of their resource consent applications on schedule. This is on par with the national average of 95%. 6% of Marlborough’s application deadlines were extended through the use of section 37. Nationally during 2010-2011, 36 154 resource consent applications were processed through to a decision, of these 0.56% (203) resource consent applications ... More about 95% of region's resource consent applications processed on time.
The Marlborough region will be expected to implement a single report for presentation of information required under the Sentencing Act 2002 to the courts from 1 March 2012. The Department of Corrections' Community Probation Services (CPS) says it has implemented a new Integrated Practice Framework (IPF) for the management of parole, home detention, ... More about New court sentencing reports .
Gift duty will be repealed from 1 October 2011, but lawyers are being warned that they shouldn’t automatically advise clients to forgive any outstanding debts owed to them by a family trust. Doing so could result in clients becoming ineligible for means-tested benefits in the future, including the residential care subsidy. ... More about Webinar looks at implications of gift duty repeal.
New Zealand Law Society information on practising certificates on issue at 1 August 2011 shows that Marlborough branch has 0.5% of New Zealand's lawyers. With 52 practising lawyers, Marlborough was just behind Gisborne (with 55 practising lawyers) as the smallest New Zealand Law Society branch. Of the 52 practising certificates held by Marlborough lawyers, 34 are ... More about Marlborough has smallest number of lawyers.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 8 active claims covering 8 properties in the Marlborough branch area at 2 August 2011.Nationally at 2 August 2011, there were 1, 809 active claims (up from 1,792 at 31 June 2011) covering 4,317 properties (4,317 at 31 June 2011). The Department has received 6, 504 claims ... More about Eight leaky building claims in Marlborough.
Information on residential dwelling sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales so far this year in Marlborough are up 8.2% on the same time in 2010. In the period from 1 January to 31 July 2011 there were 448 residential dwelling units sold in Marlborough, compared with 414 during the same ... More about Marlborough residential conveyancing healthier than 2010.
The Department of Labour is reporting that most regions experienced growth in advertised skilled vacancies in the month of June 2011. Growth was the strongest in the South Island - except Canterbury (up 12.0%) and the North Island - except Auckland and Wellington (up 7.3%). There was a small drop in job vacancies ... More about Strongest growth in skilled vacancies in South.
More staff and improved work practices have resulted in Community Probation Services (CPS) doubling community work compliance rates since 2009, Corrections Minister Judith Collins has said. Speaking at the official opening of the Blenheim CPS Service Centre today, Ms Collins said the Government’s $256 million investment in CPS was paying ... More about Probation compliance rates double .
Denis Sheard, special counsel Simpson Grierson Auckland, has prepared a report for Marlborough District Council in relation to Allegations of Corruption and a Review of Tendering Pracitices. Mr Sheard says as a result of his investigation he is satisfied the council is not a "corrupt" organisation and that ... More about The Marlborough District Council is not corrupt says Simpson Grierson report.
Marlborough legal executives will have their turn to meet, mingle, and celebrate their successes. A function will be held on 14 July to acknowledge the high marks obtained by the latest graduates. The region, which only boasts around 50 lawyers, had six graduates with one getting the first equal mark in the ... More about Marlborough legal executives successes celebrated.
Michael Turner, Barrister of Blenheim has been appointed as a District Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. Judge Turner was admitted to the Bar in 1979 after graduating from Auckland University. He has practised as a Barrister sole in Blenheim since 1996 in criminal, family and civil law. His family ... More about Family Court Judge appointed.
The Marlborough Branch has elected its council for 2011-12 at the 30 June annual general meeting. Bryony Millar will continue to reign as president, David Clark from Wisheart Macnab & Partners is the vice-president. The council members are Quentin Davies, Gascoigne Wicks; Matthew Fairweather, Crichton Loach; Simon Gaines, Gaines Law; Alan ... More about Marlborough Branch annual general meeting report.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows there are eight active claims in the Marlborough region at 31 June 2011. Nationally at the end of June 2011, there were 1,792 active claims (down from 1,825 at 31 March 2011) covering 4,317 properties (4,246 at 31 March 2011). A high proportion of these (1,268 claims) ... More about Eight active leaky building claims in Marlborough.
Unfortunately, two Blenhiem NZLS CLE Ltd video-conferences have been cancelled due to insufficient numbers. The Ethics for Litigators and the Formation and Termination of Executive Employment Relationships, scheduled for next week will not be going ahead. Go to the NZLS CLE website to register or find out more information ... More about Blenhiem video-conference cancellations .
Members of the Marlborough branch of the New Zealand Law Society are invited to attend the annual general meeting. The AGM will deliver the president's report, and hold elections for officers, branch president, branch vice-president, and between three and 10 council members. There will also be time for discussing general ... More about Marlborough annual general meeting on tomorrow.
Marlborough lawyers are invited to attend a NZLS CLE Ltd webinar on asset planning - the impact of the Ministry of Social Development's means assessment. The webinar will be held on 21 July via the internet, and will look at what the Ministry of Social Development takes into account when ... More about Asset planning webinar opportunity to upskill.
NZLS CLE Ltd is providing lawyers with the opportunity to learn more about the Unit Titles Act 2010. This heralds a significant change in the property market and along with the explosion of unit title developments a significant numbers of residents come under the ambit of this Act. They, along ... More about Unit Titles Act seminars.
The NZLS CLE Ltd are hosting a series of seminars and video-conferences on Evidence for Family Lawyers at the end of this month. The Family Court has become riddled with hearsay, opinion, propensity and irrelevant evidence leading to unnecessary delays, expense, frustration and irritation on the part of other ... More about Seminars on evidence for family lawyers.
Which forum will produce the best result for your client? When does the 10-year limitation start? How do you deal with the technical evidence? These questions and many more will be answered at an NZLS CLE Ltd live video-conference presented by Tim Rainey and Dan Parker in Blenheim. ... More about Leaky buildings video conference.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Marlborough in May 2011 were up 16.7% on May 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 316 sales in Marlborough, which is exactly the same total as the first five months of 2010. As an indicator of the ... More about Marlborough residential dwelling sales ahead of 2010.
Information released by the Minister for Courts, Georgina te Heuheu, shows that average waiting times of 115 days for committal to trial at Blenheim District Court in the first quarter of 2011 were longer than the national average of 105 days. Kaikoura District Court, however, had an average waiting time of just 85 days. ... More about Information released on Marlborough District Court waiting times.
Marlborough employment law practitioners have an opportunity to hear from the Chief Employment Court Judge during a special NZLS CLE Ltd webinar on 3 June 2011. “Raising Personal Grievances and Challenges – getting it right” will be held at 1:00pm. The 1-hour webinar will link all registered participants to Judge Colgan and Buddle ... More about Webinar gives key information on raising and challenging personal grievances.
Information collected by the New Zealand Law Society shows that 52 lawyers held practising certificates in the Marlborough branch area at 1 April 2011. This was 0.4% of all practising certificates on issue at the time (including 341 lawyers based overseas). Blenheim was the workplace for 50 lawyers, giving it 1.7 lawyers per 1,000 inhabitants. This was below ... More about Marlborough lawyer statistics released.
A seminar explaining the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and aimed at professionals with clients who own forestry land will be held in Blenheim on 16 May. “Emission Trading Scheme Forestry” has been organised by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. The seminar aims to provide a guide to ETS for ... More about ETS Forestry seminar to be held in Blenheim.
While the new Legal Services Act comes into force on 1 July 2011, changes announced by the government on 13 April have added further complexity to the knowledge legal aid providers need of the new system. A NZLS CLE Ltd seminar, “Changes to Legal Aid 2011”, is being held at 23 venues around New Zealand ... More about Legal Services Act changes update essential for all Marlborough legal aid providers.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Marlborough in March 2011 were up 3.1% on March 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 168 sales in Marlborough, which is 0.6% down on the first three months of 2010. As an indicator of the value of residential ... More about Marlborough residential conveyancing statistics March 2011.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 6 active claims covering 6 properties in the Marlborough branch area at 31 March 2011. All claims were located in the Marlborough District Council area. Nationally at the end of March 2011, there were 1,825 active claims (down ... More about Few leaky building claims in Marlborough.
Marlborough branch lawyers will be able to participate in a special NZLS CLE Ltd webinar which looks at the impact of the new zero-rating regime for business-to-business land transaction. The new regime has applied from 1 April 2011 and significantly alters the way GST is accounted for, how assets are sold and ... More about Webinar backgrounds GST changes for land transactions .