Otago University Associate Professor of Law Donna Buckingham has been elected President of the Law Society's Otago branch. Donna is the first full-time member of the University of Otago to serve as Otago President since the late Frank Guest, the first Professor of the Faculty of Law, who was ... More about Donna Buckingham new Otago branch President.
Otago lawyers have the opportunity to participate in a special one-hour NZLS CLE Ltd 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 ... 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 Otago 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.
There will be a get together for all Family Practitioners to a chin wag with Judge Coyle in the lawyer's common room on Friday 16 March at 1pm. It is an opportunity for the family law bar to ask questions. Any suggestions for issues or topics that need or could ... More about Family Practitioners Chin Wag .
Queenstown Lakes' freedom camping bylaws are being revisited to allow infringement fines to be enforced in line with the Freedom Camping Act of 2011. Instant infringement fines of $200, or up to $10,000 for serious offences such as emptying a campervan sewage tank in a rest area, took effect on August 30 and enforcement ... More about Queenstown Lakes' freedom camping bylaws revisited.
This year’s New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Address, organised by the Otago Women Lawyers’ Society (OWLS), will be given at 12:30pm on 23 April at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, following drinks and nibbles from noon. Justice Kate O’Regan, a foundation member of South Africa’s Constitutional Court, ... More about Dates set for 2012 Ethel Benjamin Address.
The Faculty of Law is now hosting Art in Law VII. For several years now, the faculty has been fortunate enough host these exhibitions which puts on show the works of many of the graduates from the Dunedin School of Art. This year’s Art in Law features an ... More about Art in Law has returned to Otago University.
Christchurch assistant librarian Theresa Graham sorting out some of the historic collection in the Law Society Library in Dunedin for packing. Dunedin’s historic law library collection is now safely packed and placed in storage. Packing of the collection began in mid-December after part of the Dunedin Courthouse was closed ... More about Dunedin’s historic law library collection secured.
Otago law and commerce graduate Kent Gardener was named the 2012 UK New Zealander of the Year. Kent has lived in London for 10 years, where he recently set up the Step Up for 4 Christchurch. This initiative raised £325,000 for earthquake relief. Kent is a trustee of the UK Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. He ... More about Otago Graduate named UK New Zealander of the year.
A 150-minute videoconference to update property lawyers on developments in the Property Law Act 2007 is to be held in Oamaru and Queenstown 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 each centre ... More about Update on Property Law Act heads to Oamaru and Queenstown.
The Ministry of Justice has released an update for courts in Balclutha, Dunedin and Oamaru. The District Courts in Balclutha and Oamaru were closed in late November 2011 after engineering experts warned there was a high risk of partial or full collapse in a significant seismic event. The tower block and ... More about Ministry updates details for closed courts.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 23 active claims covering 11 properties in the Otago branch region at 8 January 2012. The majority of these claims were located in the Queenstown Lakes region (21 active claims covering 9 properties). The Department ... More about Queenstown Lakes region has majority of leaky buildings.
The Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry Psychology and Law has released the dates of the annual mental health law presentation in Otago. It will be held in Dunedin Monday 9 July 2012. The program is presently being finalised but again will be topical and relevant to people working in or ... More about Mental health law conference.
About 120 freedom camping infringement fines were issued in the Queenstown Lakes district over the Christmas-New Year holiday period from December 24 to January 4, Lakes Environmental regulatory and corporate manager Lee Webster said. According to the Otago Daily Times, the figure accounted for more than a third of all infringement notices issued ... More about 120 freedom camping infringement fines over break.
The Ministry of Justice has announced that part of the Dunedin court building will be temporarily closed while earthquake strengthening work is carried out. The ministry says it has received the final engineering assessment on the building and the court's Tower Block has been identified as posing a risk ... More about Part of Dunedin courthouse to be closed.
The Ministry of Justice has released more information on arrangements following the closure of the Oamaru courthouse for earthquake strengthening. Criminal cases have been transfered to Timaru District Court, for hearings on 21 and 22 December. Any person in custody will be dealt with in the Dunedin Combined Court on the date ... More about Oamaru District Court arrangements updated.
The Ministry of Justice has updated its information on arrangements following the closure of the Balclutha courthouse for earthquake strengthening. Criminal cases originally scheduled for 16 and 17 January 2012 have been transfered to Gore District Court. Any person in custody will be dealt with in the Dunedin Combined Court on the date ... More about Ministry provides update on Balclutha District Court.
The Ministry of Justice's Acting Deputy Secretary Courts, Robert Pigou, says the ministry will soon receive a final assessment on the Dunedin court. This follows the closure of six courthouses around New Zealand for earthquake strengthening work and news that the soundness of the Dunedin courthouse was being assessed. & ... More about Decision on Dunedin court nears.
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.
The Environment Court has approved the addition of Plan Change 1C to the Otago Water Plan, after several outstanding appeals, involving nine parties, were resolved following mediation. Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the court’s assent meant the plan change has full legal effect from March 1 next year, ... More about Environment Court approves new water allocation regime for Otago region.
The Ministry of Justice has released an update on interim arrangements while the Balclutha and Oamaru courthouses are closed for earthquake strengthening work. Balclutha Criminal cases transferred to Gore. Any person in custody will be dealt with in the Dunedin Combined Court on the date currently scheduled, unless earlier remanded ... More about Ministry update on Balclutha and Oamaru courthouse arrangements.
The Ministry of Justice has announced arrangements for matters at the Balclutha District Court following its closure for earthquake remedial work. The Balclutha Registry is in a separate building from the courtroom and is not affected by the temporary closure. Balclutha District Court facilities Facility Arrangement Comments POST Send to ... More about Temporary arrangements for Balclutha courthouse.
The Ministry of Justice has provided information on the temporary arrangements for the Oamaru District Court following closure of the courthouse for earthquake remedial work. Arrangements for Oamaru District Court facilities Facility Arrangement Comments POST Send to existing DX: DX WX 10671 The existing DX has been diverted to Timaru where ... More about Temporary arrangments for Oamaru courthouse announced.
Information from the engineer's report used by the Ministry of Justice for the decision to close six courthouses shows that the Dunedin courthouse is still undergoing a detailed assessment. The report by Opus International Consultants Ltd says Opus is currently undertaking a full quantitative assessment of the Dunedin building ... More about Dunedin courthouse still being assessed.
The Ministry of Justice has announced that the Oamaru and Balclutha District Courts are to close temporarily while earthquake strengthening work is carried out. All work at the Oamaru District Court will be transferred to Timaru District Court. Hearings at the Balclutha District Court will be transfered to Gore District ... More about Oamaru and Balclutha District Courts to close temporarily.
The Otago Southland Branch Conference weekend began on a very cold and snowy Friday with a luncheon to celebrate those who have been admitted for 30 years or more, and it was a great way to catch up with colleagues and friends. On Saturday 5 November, members from the Otago and Southland ... More about Successful Otago Southland Branch Conference.
Queenstown and Auckland environmental law specialist firm, North South Environmental Law (NSEL), has won the Resource Management and Environment Law Award at the 7th annual New Zealand Law Awards 2011 last Thursday. The winning law firms were selected by popular vote by their clients. NSEL director Robert Makgill said, when ... More about Queenstown law firm wins major law award.
For the first time in its 22 years, the Waitaki District Council has missed the legal deadline for approving its annual report. Under the Local Government Act, the council should have received and approved its 2010-11 annual report by October 31, but now says this will be done next month. The lateness ... More about Waitaki District Council misses legal report deadline .
Two-partner Dunedin firm Van Aart Sycamore has won the Fujitsu InfinityLaw Corporate and Commercial Law Award. The award was presented at the 2011 New Zealand Law Awards in Auckland on 10 November. Van Aart Sycamore won ahead of Bell Gully, Simpson Grierson, Cavell Leitch Law, Lane Neave Lawyers and Lowndes Associates. ... More about Van Aart Sycamore takes Law Award.
The Dunedin City Council has entered mediation talks with a developer aimed at avoiding an Environment Court battle over a rejected retail complex in Green Island according to the Otago Daily Times. It was confirmed this week Irmo Properties Ltd had lodged an appeal with the Environment Court, after its ... More about DCC in mediation over rejected retail complex.
Police say they are considering the legal position in relation the Dunedin City Council's trespass order served on the Occupy Dunedin protesters yesterday according to Voxy.co.nz. "Any power to trespass people protesting in a public place must be exercised reasonably and balance rights and freedoms. These ... More about Police consider Dunedin occupation legal position.
Leaky home claims have been revealed to be largely behind a $2.9 million legal cost overspend by the Queenstown Lakes District Council for the past financial year. Legal costs of $606,000, a legacy of the Queenstown Airport share-sale litigation, were last month said to be the only major overspending by the Queenstown ... More about QLDC $2.9m legal cost overspend.
As introducing Maori constituencies had gained no support from the region's runanga, the Otago Regional Council will not take the idea any further, according to the Otago Daily Times. At a meeting yesterday, the council considered a requirement under the Local Government Act for it to consider establishing Maori ... More about No Maori constituencies for Otago.
Husband and wife Andrew Geddis and Jacinta Ruru from the University of Otago's Faculty of Law have both received awards to research different aspects of law at US universities. The Fulbright New Zealand awards have been announced under its senior scholar programme. The recipients will be able to research ... More about University of Otago law lecturers receive Fulbright awards.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 24 active claims covering 12 properties in the Otago region at 30 September 2011. The vast majority were in Queenstown, with 24 active claims over 12 properties. The remainding 3 were in Dunedin City. As at 30 September 2011 the Department ... More about Leaky building claims October.
The Association of Dispute Resolvers, Leader has posted advance notice of 2012 mediation workshop dates on its website. The dates for the workshops are as follows: Auckland 20-24 March 2012 & Auckland 6-10 November 2012 Wellington 19-23 June 2012 South Island 14-18 August 2012 For expressions of interest, contact the LEADR ... More about Leader workshops 2012.
The Otago region's councils processed 97% of their resource consent applications on schedule in the year ended June 2011. The region has performed slightly better than the national council average which is 95%. 7% of the area’s application deadlines were extended through the use of section 37. Nationally during 2010-2011, 36 154 resource consent applications ... More about 97% of region's resource consent applications processed on time.
The annual combined Otago and Southland Branches conference will be held at the Queenstown District Court on Staurday 5 November 2011 followed by a conference dinner with the guest of honour being Justice Whata and Associate Judge Matthews. Early bird reduced rate registration is still available until October 7. The Conference takes place ... More about Last chance for early registrations for the 2011 Otago / Southland Conference.
The Otago region will be expected to implement a single report for presentation of information required under the Sentencing Act 2002 to Dunedin 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 .
REINZ is pleased to extend an invitation to ADLS and NZLS members to the above webinar. The latest edition of the “Agreement for Sale and Purchase of a Business” incorporates a GST schedule allowing for the newcompulsory GST Zero‐Rating Regime under Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010. The standard ... More about REINZ Webinar looks at GST Zero‐Rating Regime .
Broadcaster, Paul Holmes will be at the Dunedin City Library on Wednesday 28 September, to discuss his latest book,Daughters of Erebus which re-examines the initial investigation into the crash of the Air New Zealand DC-10 aircraft in Antarctica, the wrongful blame placed upon the shoulders of the pilots by Air ... More about Paul Holmes Talks about Erebus Tragedy at Dunedin City Library.
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 assesses considerations arising from gift duty repeal.
New Zealand Law Society information on practising certificates on issue at 1 August 2011 shows that Otago branch has 3.6% of New Zealand's lawyers. Of the 406 practising certificates held by Otago lawyers, 219 are held by men and 187 by women - meaning 54% of Otago lawyers are men. This is below the national proportion, ... More about Otago branch has 3.6% of New Zealand lawyers.
Dunedin city councillors have voted against reviewing representation arrangements for the council this triennium (period of three years), and for retaining the single transferable vote electoral system for the 2013 elections. Councillors thought it was too soon for a review and did not want to spend the estimated $50,000 a review would ... More about Councillors vote against electoral review.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 11 active claims covering 21 properties in the Otago area at 2 August 2011. Of these claims the majority were in the Queenstown Lakes area with 8 (18 properties) and 3 in the Dunedin City area. Nationally at 2 August 2011, ... More about Queenstown Lakes district houses majority of region's leaky buildings.
Information on residential dwelling sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Otago in July 2011 were up 4.1% on July 2010. On a year-to-date basis there have been 1477 sales in Otago, which is 3.1% above the 1433 sales in the first 7 months of 2010. As an indicator of the ... More about Otago residential dwelling sales keep ahead of 2010 level.
Information from the New Zealand Law Society shows that there are 271 lawyers that hold practising certificates in Dunedin. This means that there is one lawyer per 430 inhabitants. Wellington City has one lawyer for every 91 inhabitants – by far the highest proportion for New Zealand. Christchurch has the third-highest number of lawyers, ... More about One lawyer per 430 inhabitants in Dunedin.
The Dunedin City Council has released a statement saying its owned companies cannot sustain into the future the level of dividends projected to be paid to Council and which Council has budgeted for. The statement details: From the next financial year, 2012/2013, there will be a $5 million dollar per annum ... More about $8 million shortfall in revenue across Council controlled organisations.
Desiree Mahy has been re-apponited to Te Hunga Roia Māori o Aotearoa (Māori Law Society) for the third year in a row. Ms Mahy is currently a solicitor at the Ngāi Tahu Māori Law Centre, a Community Law Centre that specialises in Māori ... More about Otago lawyer re-apponited to Māori Law Society for third year.
Otago University law students took out two finals at the Australian Law Students Association Competitions in Sydney. Louis Chambers and Alice Osman, who are both in their final years of an LLB, won the mooting competition – with Alex Boock and Robert Clarke winning the client interviewing competition. Kate Lawson-Bradshaw came ... More about Otago law students take out Australian competition .
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.
OWLS, the Otago Women Lawyers’ Society, is turning silver this year. It will celebrate its 25th anniversary at a dinner at the Forsyth Barr Stadium at 7pm on 19 August. This is the same day that the 15th New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin address, commemorating New Zealand’s first ... More about OWLS celebrates 25 years.
Just over 70% of criminal charges prosecuted in Oamaru, Queenstown, Dunedin and Balclutha District Courts during 2010 resulted in a conviction, according to information released by Statistics New Zealand. The 2010 Criminal Conviction and Sentencing Statistics show that during 2010 there were 13,192 charges prosecuted where there was a final outcome. Of these, 9,267 resulted in ... More about 70% of criminal prosecutions result in conviction in Otago branch area.
The third annual Mental Health Law Conference will take place in the five main centres in August. This conference is intended to be a forum for inter-disciplinary discussion of key legal issues facing lawyers, clinicians and consumers working in mental health with a view to continuing to improve the way ... More about Mental Health Law conference set for August.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 21 active claims covering 11 properties in the Otago branch area at 31 June 2011. Of the active claims, 18 were in Queenstown-Lakes District Council (8 properties) and 3 in Dunedin City Council (3 properties). Nationally at the end of ... More about High number of leaky building claims in Otago branch area.
The Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand Inc. has announced that its 20th Anniversary Conference will be held in Queenstown at the Millenium Hotel between Thursday 27 September and Sunday 30 September in 2012. A draft theme of "Risk & Resilience" has been proposed. The RMLA plans to engage ... More about Resource Management Law Association 20th anniversary.
The Dunedin Community Law Centre and Ngai Tahu Maori Law Centre are now part of a national body. All of New Zealand’s 26 Community Law Centres have announced they have recently voted on the formation of Community Law Centres o Aotearoa (CLCA). CLCA was established on 3 June 2011, in Bell Gully’ ... More about Dunedin Community Law Centre and Ngai Tahu Maori Law Centre join national body.
The next Public Defence Service office to be established will be in Dunedin, the Acting Deputy Secretary Legal Services and Treaty, Stuart White, has advised. In a letter to New Zealand Law Society President Jonathan Temm about PDS expansion plans, Mr White says Dunedin will be the first PDS office ... More about Dunedin PDS office expected to be open by end of year.
The Otago Branch Council invites all Oamaru practitioners to join them for lunch before the next council meeting on 05 July 2011 at 12:30 pm. The lunch will be held at the Chambers of Oamaru Opera House. If you are an Oamaru practitioner are interested in attending RSVP to the ... More about Lunch for Oamaru practitioners.
Buddle Findlay and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL) have announced that Dunedin is one of the venues for their third annual Mental Health Law conference. The conference will be held at Mercure Hotel on 18 August 2011. It is intended to be a forum for ... More about Mental Health Law conference to be held in Dunedin.
The Ministry of Justice is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons who would like to be considered for appointment as a Visiting Justice in the Otago region. Under section 19(2) of the Corrections Act 2004, the Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, appoint any Justice of ... More about Visiting Justice sought for Otago.
Seminars on contemporary issues and techniques concerning arbitration will occur in September. Arbitration is an increasingly popular option used by parties to settle disputes and is used by clients to give a settlement framework. This NZLS CLE Ltd seminar looks at whether lawyers are maximising the benefits of arbitration. ... More about Arbitration seminars.
Lawyers are invited to attend a NZLS CLE Ltd webinar on asset planning - the impact of the Ministry of Social Development's means assessment. Live to your computer on 21 July the seminar delivered via the internet will address questions surrounding what the Ministry of Social Development takes into account ... More about Asset planning webinars.
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 NZLS CLE Ltd seminars and live video-conferences presented by Tim Rainey and Dan Parker in the ... More about Leaky buildings seminars in Otago.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Otago in May 2011 were up 12.8% on May 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 1,476 sales in Otago, which is 0.7% up on the first five months of 2010. Cumulative sales are ahead of the same time ... More about Otago residential dwelling sales now ahead of 2010.
Karl Hewitt, the new Otago Branch Manager will start on 16 June. Until then a Branch Manager will be available on the following days: 1-2 June 7-8 June 15 June The Branch Librarian will be in between 9-10am every morning and the Legal Standards Solicitor will be in Monday, Tuesday and ... More about Branch opening hours.
Information released in the New Zealand Council of Legal Education's annual report shows that enrolments for the Dunedin Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) Professional Legal Studies Course continued to decline in 2010. In 2010 there were 28 enrolments at Dunedin, which was 7% of the New Zealand total of 376 enrolments. This was 28% ... More about Fall in 2010 IPLS Dunedin enrolments.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Otago in April 2011 were up 7.1% on April 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 1,167 sales in Otago, which is 2.1% down on the first four months of 2010. As an indicator of the value of residential ... More about Otago residential conveyancing statistics, April 2011.
Information released by the Minister for Courts, Georgina te Heuheu, shows that the average time of 91 days for committal to trial in Dunedin District Court in the first quarter of 2011 was shorter than the national average of 105 days. Mrs te Heuheu released the information in response to a series of ... More about Information released on Otago District Court waiting times.
Otago 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 413 lawyers held practising certificates in the Otago branch region at 1 April 2011. This was 3.6% of all practising certificates on issue at the time (including 341 lawyers based overseas). Details of practising certificates on issue in Otago were as follows: Otago branch practising ... More about 3.6% of NZ lawyers located in Otago branch area.
A seminar explaining the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and aimed at professionals with clients who own forestry land will be held in three locations in the Otago branch during May. “Emission Trading Scheme Forestry” has been organised by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. The seminar aims to provide ... More about ETS Forestry seminar to be held in 3 branch locations.
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 Otago legal aid providers.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Otago in March 2011 were down 3.1% on March 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 836 sales in Otago, which is 5.3% down on the first three months of 2010. As an indicator of the value of residential ... More about Otago residential conveyancing statistics, March 2011.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 14 active claims covering 24 properties in the Otago branch area at 31 March 2011. Of the active claims, 10 were in Queenstown Lakes District Council (for 20 properties), 3 in Dunedin City Council (3 properties) and 1 in Central Otago ... More about Most Otago leaky building claims in Queenstown.
Otago 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 the ... More about Webinar backgrounds GST changes for land transactions .