Latest Articles
Wednesday, 3 February, 2010 | Business, Company, Employment
From 1 April 2010 the minimum wage rates are as follows:
- From $12.50 to $12.75 for the adult minimum wage, this applies to all employees aged 16 and over who are not new entrants or trainees.
- From $10.00 to $10.20 for the new entrants minimum wage, this applies to employees aged 16 and 17 except for those who have completed 200 hours or three months of employment, whichever is shorter; or who
Thursday, 21 January, 2010 | Maori Issues
Some twelve years after the release of the Muriwhenua Lands Report, the iwi of Muriwhenua have signed an Agreement in Principle (“AIP”) at Roma Marae, Ahipara, on 16 January 2010.
The AIP was signed between the Crown and Te Hui Topu o Te Hiku o Te Ika (“Te Hiku Forum”) which represents Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto, Te Rarawa and Ngati Kahu.
It is reported that the agreement provides commercial redress… Continue reading
Monday, 18 January, 2010 | Employment
An employee who admitted supplying drugs to a fellow worker was dismissed has won $12,000 in lost wages (3 months) and compensation, due to the failure of his employer to follow the proper process in the investigation of the incident.
The worker admitted giving cannabis to a workmate out of hours, but the employer had no policy regarding out of hours drug use. Its policy related to drugs at work.
In addition… Continue reading
Tuesday, 15 December, 2009 | Debt Collection
Many businesses and debt collectors risk prosecution from the Commerce Commission.
If you:
- Demand collection fees or late payment fees when they were not part of the contract;
- Warn debtors that non-payment of the debt will have inevitable legal consequences;
- Employ a debt collector who demands collection fees on your behalf when not part of the contract;
- Are a debt collector who demands such payments when they were not part of the contract;
You could be… Continue reading
Thursday, 26 November, 2009 | Property
Unit Titled properties include most apartments and some freestanding houses which include multiple units. Particular owners own their own their specific units and a share in the common property and a Body Corporate manages the common property and has other legal obligations.
The Unit Titles Act 1972 has governed these types of developments for decades and now Parliament is seeking to amend the law to make setting up these developments easier… Continue reading
Wednesday, 18 November, 2009 | Employment
Email, whether you love it or hate it, you probably use it in your workplace. Who hasn’t used their work email to send a personal email or two, or forwarded a few “funnies”? How many of us have forgotten that emails are a form of written correspondence and sent comments in emails you probably wouldn’t send in a letter or even say over the phone?
Many workplaces allow some degree of… Continue reading
Friday, 16 October, 2009 | Employment
Dealing with staff off work with long term sickness can be a difficult and stressful experience and unless you get the process right you could face a personal grievance or unjustified dismissal claim. Here are the steps to follow after they have exhausted their sick leave entitlement and any annual leave that by agreement they take at that point (modified for each different situation), but please ensure that you follow… Continue reading
Monday, 5 October, 2009 | General
Recently there has been a lot of media interest about benefits received by Government Ministers. It is likely that the information about this was obtained using the Official Information Act. Official Information is information held by government officials and bodies, and you are entitled to this information under the Official Information Act 1982.
Some examples of Official Information include information held by:
- Government Ministers;
- Government departments, organisations and state-owned enterprises;
- The Police;
- City, District or
Thursday, 1 October, 2009 | Property
Natalie and Mike had been traversing the newspaper for a new property for a few months. They had heard that mortgagee sales were a good way to go as you might get a property cheaply, so were very excited when a property they really liked came up for sale by the mortgagee.
They bought the property at auction and settlement took place quickly. Issues arose though when they parked their moving… Continue reading
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