Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue has announced a series of meetings to be held around New Zealand to consider a review of the District Court Rules 2009. Chief Judge Doogue has invited representatives of the New Zealand Law Society's branch civil/courts sub-committees, the Bar Council and other senior ... More about Review of District Court Rules 2009 proposed.
Whanganui lawyer John Unsworth has been elected the Law Society's new Central North Island Vice-President. Mr Unsworth was elected at the Law Society Council meeting on 13 April. The Council elected four new Vice-Presidents to replace the outgoing Vice-Presidents, whose terms had expired. John Unsworth was President of the Whanganui ... More about Whanganui lawyer elected Law Society Vice-President.
Kathryn Crooks has been elected President of the Whanganui branch of the Law Society. After being admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court in the early 1980s, Ms Crooks worked in a large Wellington law firm, a small Rotorua-based firm and in Whanganui. Her main focus was ... More about New President for Whanganui branch of Law Society.
Whanganui 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 Whanganui 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.
Law firms around New Zealand have been receiving a fax which purports to come from the Australian Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service. The 2-page fax appears to be aimed at Australians, but has been received by a number of New Zealand law firms and organisations. The fax ... More about New scam indentified: "Australian IRS".
A 150-minute videoconference to update property lawyers on developments in the Property Law Act 2007 is to be held in Whanganui 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 Whanganui if a minimum ... More about Property Law Act videoconference in Whanganui.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 3 active claims covering 3 properties in the Whanganui 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 Only three leaky building claims in Whanganui region.
Central Region High Courts Gisborne, Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Tauranga, Whanganui Close: 5pm, Friday 23 December Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January District Courts Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Tauranga Close: 5pm, Friday 23 December Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January Hastings,Whanganui Close: 3pm, Friday 23 December Open: 9am, Wednesday 4 January ... More about Court holiday dates, Christmas-New Year 2011-12.
Security measures at Whanganui's courthouse have been beefed up with a new baggage x-ray screening device according to the Whanganui Chronicle. The machines have been installed in courthouses in Whangarei, Napier, New Plymouth and Whanganui, as part of a $9 million security enhancement rollout for New Zealand courts by the ... More about X-rays enhance court security.
Whanganui District Council will consider a formal complaint under its Code of Conduct at its meeting on November 14, Mayor Annette Main said. Cr Clive Solomon has laid a complaint against Cr Rob Vinsen, alleging a number of breaches of the ‘Understanding and Expectations’ requirements of the Code. The complaint relates ... More about Council to consider Code of Conduct complaint .
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 2 active claims covering 2 properties in the Whanganui region at 30 September 2011. There were 9 active claims and 9 property claims in the Manawatu region. As at 30 September 2011 the Department has received 6582 claims lodged for 9077 properties ... More about Leaky building claims September.
The Manawatu-Whanganui region's councils processed 94% of their resource consent applications on schedule in the year ended June 2011. The region has performed slightly worse than the national council average which is 95%. Palmerston North City Council bought down the regional average as it only processed 77% of their resource consent applications on ... More about 94% of region's resource consent applications processed on time.
Notice is given under Section 28 (1) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 that Electors of the Whanganui District Council have the right to demand a Poll on the electoral system to be used for the 2013 triennial elections of the Wanganui District Council. The Whanganui District Council resolved on 22 August 2011 to continue ... More about Public notice of the right to demand a poll on the electoral system for the Whanganui District Council.
The Whanganui region will soon be expected to implement a single report for presentation of information required under the Sentencing Act 2002 to the courts from 31 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 ... More about New court sentencing reports .
REINZ is pleased to extend an invitation to ADLS and NZLS members to the latest edition of the “Agreement for Sale and Purchase of a Business” webinars. The webinar incorporates a GST schedule allowing for the newcompulsory GST Zero‐Rating Regime under Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010. The ... More about REINZ webinar looks at GST Zero‐Rating Regime .
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 Gift duty repeal considered by webinar.
New Zealand Law Society information on practising certificates on issue at 1 August 2011 shows that Whanganui branch has 0.6% of New Zealand's lawyers. This makes Whanganui the third-smallest Law Society branch in terms of lawyer numbers, with 65, and ahead of Marlborough (52) and Gisborne (55). Of the 65 practising certificates held by Whanganui lawyers, 44 ... More about Whanganui branch has 0.6% of New Zealand lawyers.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 2 active claims covering 2 properties in the Whanganui 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 lodged ... More about Two leaky homes in Whanganui.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Whanganui in July 2011 were an impressive 32.4% up on July 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 322 sales in Whanganui, which is 5.2% ahead of the first 7 months of 2010. As an indicator of the value of ... More about Whanganui residential conveyancing value ahead of 2010.
Information from the New Zealand Law Society shows that Whanganui has 52 lawyers that hold practising certificates. This means Whanganui has one lawyer per 753 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, with 949, giving it ... More about One lawyer per 753 inhabitants in Whanganui.
The Whanganui District Council’s Youth Committee has been awarded $13,000 from the Ministry of Youth Development ‘Partnership Fund’ for the “Dub.Dee.See.Connect,” project. The aim of the project is to enhance the work of the Youth Committee by growing local connections and capacity and facilitating greater involvement of ... More about Whanganui District Council’s Youth Committee awarded $13,000 .
Ruapehu District Council’s most recent abandoned land tender round that closed on Thursday 21 July has been the most successful since the rate recovery programme began with the properties for tender attracting the largest number of offers and the highest average prices. RDC Group Manager Corporate Services, Peter Till, said ... More about Fourth abandoned land tender doubles average sale price.
The Department of Labour is reporting that there was an increase in skilled job vacancies for the North Island (up 7.3%) in the month of June 2011. Most regions experienced growth in advertised skilled vacancies in June. Growth was the strongest though in the South Island (up 12.0%) - except Canterbury (0.%) and ... More about Increase in skilled vacancies for North Island.
Wellingtonian David Cameron has been appointed a District Court Judge, and now sits in Whanganui. Mr Cameron was admitted to the bar in 1976. He returned to New Zealand after four years in the Solomon Islands, where he was a High Court Judge presiding over criminal and civil trials. He ... More about New Whanganui Judge.
Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand are holding an informal network meeting for its members on 26 July in Palmerston North. Members can met other Palmerston North/Whanganui AMINZ members from 7:00am to 8:45am Each member is responsible for ordering and paying for their own breakfast. All members and guests ... More about AMINZ breakfast network meeting.
Just over 78% of criminal charges prosecuted in Whanganui and Taihapi 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 5,410 charges prosecuted where there was a final outcome. Of these, 4,241 resulted in a conviction (78.3%). A ... More about Over three-quarters of criminal prosecutions result in conviction in Whanganui branch area.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were two active claims covering two properties in the Whanganui branch area at 31 June 2011. Both the active claims were in the Whanganui District Council area. Nationally at the end of ... More about Few leaky building claims in Whanganui branch area.
A council controlled organisation (CCO) in the Manawautu-Whanganui region is delivering efficiencies, stronger governance and cost savings for the participating councils, reports Local Government New Zealand. The CCO (MWLASS), which brings together Horizons Regional Councils and Horowhenua, Manawatu, Rangatikei, Ruapehu, Tararua and Whanganui District Councils, was established in 2008 to investigate, ... More about Delivering shared services in Manuwatu-Whanganui.
NZLS CLE will present an ethical obligations video-conference on July 7 (09:00 am) which is aimed at all practitioners who appear in any court or tribunal. The new regulatory environment for the legal profession means that there are now a number of different, unfamiliar ethical obligations for counsel and more fish hooks ... More about Ethical obligations seminar.
Whanganui lawyers are invited to attend a NZLS CLE Ltd webinar on asset planning - the impact of the Ministry of Social Development's means assessment. To be held on 21 July, the webinar will look at what the Ministry of Social Development takes into account when it conducts financial means ... More about Asset planning webinar opportunity to consider means assessment.
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.
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 Whanganui. ... 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 Whanganui in May 2011 were up 51.4% on May 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 228 sales in Whanganui, which is 7.0% up on the first five months of 2010. This goes against the national trend, as overall ... More about Whanganui residential dwelling sales ahead of 2010.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Whanganui in April 2011 were up 20.9% on April 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 172 sales in Whanganui, which is 2.3% down on the first four months of 2010. As an indicator of the value of residential ... More about Whanganui residential conveyancing statistics, April 2011.
Information released by the Minister for Courts, Georgina te Heuheu, shows that average waiting times for cases to be committed to trial in Whanganui District Courts are shorter than the national average of 105 days. Mrs te Heuheu released the information in response to a series of written Parliamentary questions from ... More about Whanganui District Court average waiting times.
Whanganui 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 66 lawyers held practising certificates in the Whanganui branch area at 1 April 2011. This was 0.6% of all practising certificates on issue at the time (including 341 lawyers based overseas). Details of practising certificates on issue in the Whanganui branch were as follows: Whanganui ... More about Whanganui branch 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 locations in Wanganui on 19 May. “Emission Trading Scheme Forestry” has been organised by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. The seminar aims to provide a guide to ... More about ETS Forestry seminar to be held in Whanganui.
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 Whanganui branch legal aid providers.
Information on residential dwelling unit sales released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows that sales in Whanganui in March 2011 were identical to March 2010. Year-to-date, there have been 120 sales in Whanganui, which is 9.8% down on the first three months of 2010. As an indicator of the value of residential ... More about Whanganui residential conveyancing statistics, March 2011.
Information released by the Department of Building and Housing's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service shows that there were 2 active claims covering 2 properties in the Whanganui branch area at 31 March 2011. Both claims were in the Wanganui District Council area. Nationally at the end of March 2011, there were 1,825 active claims (down from 1,833 ... More about Leaky building claim a rare event in Whanganui.
Whanganui 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 .
Wellington lawyer David Cameron has been appointed a District Court Judge. He will be sworn in at Wellington on 13 April 2011 and will sit in Whanganui. Mr Cameron was admitted to the bar in 1976. He recently returned to New Zealand after four years in the Solomon Islands where was a High ... More about New District Court Judge to sit in Whanganui.