Investigating sudden deaths
The role of a Coroner is to investigate sudden deaths. However, many New Zealanders do not understand the reasons why a Coroner’s inquest is required by law. We talked with one of New Zealand’s 14 regional Coroners to help explain the so-called mysteries and why a Coroner’s role is important.

Two’s company, three’s a crowd
but any number is a joint venture Farm sales may have cooled in the past few months but there is no doubt that buying a farm is still beyond the reach of most people. This is one reason why many more farm purchases are being completed by groups of people in different types of structures. This article broadly discusses factors that need to be considered when buying property as a group.

What does it really mean?
We often hear the term without prejudice used when dealing with business matters. However, it is a term that is often misused and also misunderstood. We look at what without prejudice really means and how it is used.

Implications for employers and employees
On 1 March 2009 the provision for 90-day trial periods in the Employment Relations Amendment Act came into force. The introduction of this new law has been controversial and many people are concerned over its potential effect on job security. We take a look at the new legislation and consider how it will impact on both employers and employees.

Responsibilities for both employers and employees
There’s a memorable bathroom scene in the 1999 movie Rogue Trader. Ewan McGregor, playing Nick Leeson (the man who brought down Barings Bank) stares at himself in the mirror. With horrified disbelief he intones, “I, Nicholas Leeson, have just lost 50 million quid, in one day!” He vomits in the basin and returns to work. Workplace stress? Off the scale. If New Zealand employment law applied, would Nick have had a claim against his employer? We examine this below.

Have you ever bought something from the supermarket only to get home and realise it’s past its expiry date? Is it still okay to eat? And can a shop sell items that are out of date? We take a look at what the date labels mean on the food we buy.

Its meaning for clients
On 1 August 2008 new legislation came into force that regulates how lawyers and law firms operate and, significantly, how they must now communicate with their clients. This article looks at the purposes of the Act and its implications for clients.

Partnerships and company structures
When setting up or buying a business, one of the most important decisions to be made is how the business equity funding should be structured. This article examines some of the issues around the differences between a partnership and a company structure.

Be careful with property
For most people there is little doubt in their own minds as to whether or not they are in a de facto relationship. However the definition of ‘de facto relationship’ in the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 might make some people re-assess. This article looks at what constitutes a de facto relationship and what couples need to look out for.