FYI:
Litigation – Bloggers, Tweeters and Facebook - New Media or News Media
22 Dec 2011
The Law Commission is proposing significant changes to the law affecting mainstream and new media...
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X-Tech:
ezine – The Law Commission's Report on the Privacy Act - a New Act?
19 Dec 2011
Over the past several years, the New Zealand Law Commission has conducted an extensive review of New Zealand's privacy laws...
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X-Tech:
ezine – Internet and the Law: Cloud Code of Practice - Work in Progress
19 Dec 2011
Work is underway in New Zealand on the development of a code of practice for cloud computing providers. This article looks at the development of the code...
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X-Tech:
ezine – IT Projects - Risk Assessment and Mitigation
19 Dec 2011
The recent BSkyB v EDS case in the United Kingdom, which involved the implementation of a replacement customer relationship management solution, is a relatively recent example of how a large IT project can be blighted by severe delays and costs overruns...
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X-Tech:
ezine – Storm Brewing over Cloud TV
19 Dec 2011
Technology is influencing people's lives. Advances such as the advent of cloud services, faster broadband, and increased data caps are changing the way people consume content and other media. This extends to some of the more simple pleasures (or necessities) in life, like watching TV...
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Feature Article:
Maori cultural values and the Environment Court
18 Dec 2011
In this article Gerald Lanning and Warren Bangma discuss five Environment Court decisions with an emphasis on the way Māori cultural concerns are taken into account by the Court...
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FYI:
Intellectual Property – Wai 262: Protection of Treasured Intellectual Property
15 Dec 2011
The report on the Wai 262 claim, released earlier this year by New Zealand's Waitangi Tribunal, includes a number of recommendations relating to intellectual property rights and treasured elements of Māori culture...
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FYI:
Sales & Marketing – Christmas Crackers
13 Dec 2011
The Christmas season is upon us and it is time to reflect on another year in the sometimes peculiar world of sales and marketing. Here we bring you the advertisements that pushed the boundaries, the bizarre complaints, and the amusing advertiser responses from New Zealand, Australia and the US...
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FYI:
Tax – Post-Election Tax Stock-Take
12 Dec 2011
With the election behind us, it is timely to review what will (and what will not) be happening on the tax policy front in the short and medium term...
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FYI:
Employment Law – "Would" v "Could" - Employment Court confirms that more than just one letter has changed
07 Dec 2011
The Full Court of the Employment Court has just released its preliminary decision in the cases of Angus v Ports of Auckland and McKean v Ports of Auckland. This decision confirms that Parliament did indeed alter the test for justification of dismissals ...
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FYI:
Employment Law – The Future of Employment Relations - The Next Three Years
01 Dec 2011
Employment relations emerged as an important political battleground this election in light of the giant gap between the two main parties, with National wanting to give greater flexibility to businesses and Labour wanting to strengthen collective bargaining for workers...
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FYI:
Litigation – Enforcing Foreign Judgments in New Zealand
30 Nov 2011
Wherever you are in the world, once the effort and expense of obtaining a judgment is over, the last thing you want to face is a problem enforcing it...
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FYI:
Commercial Property – No Change for Ground Rents
28 Nov 2011
The Supreme Court confirms on the valuation methodology of rent reviews under ground leases (also known as Glasgow leases), in the final episode in Mandic v Cornwall Park Trust Board...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Casual Employees: Not Casual Enough?
16 Nov 2011
Are your casual employees truly casual? Or is the nature of their employment something more permanent?...
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FYI:
Sales & Marketing – FGC Conference 2011: The Highlights
10 Nov 2011
Last week, Peter Stubbs addressed over 200 food and grocery industry delegates at the annual New Zealand Food and Grocery Council Conference in Wellington. In this FYI, we bring you the highlights of Peter's speech...
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FYI:
Employment Law – "Could" You Dismiss
07 Nov 2011
The recent Employment Relations Authority determination of Sigglekow v Waikato District Health Board considered the new test for justifying dismissals (and other actions) by an employer...
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FYI:
Litigation – Class Actions and Litigation Funding
03 Nov 2011
Parliament's Commerce Committee has recommended that the Government take steps to allow class actions, and regulate third party litigation funders in New Zealand...
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FYI:
Energy & Natural Resources – Maui Pipeline Outage
02 Nov 2011
A gas leak in the Maui pipeline caused disruption to many businesses and there was uncertainty as to the rights and obligations of gas users, including the ability to obtain compensation...
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FYI:
Competition Law – Cartel Criminalisation One Step Closer
21 Oct 2011
Early last year, we signalled proposals to criminalise cartel conduct in New Zealand. With the recent introduction of the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill into Parliament on 13 October, those proposals are one step closer to reality...
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FYI:
Local Government – When do Councils have to consult? And how?
20 Oct 2011
Council staff will be all too aware of the importance of consultation and the risks of judicial review. In this article we look at two Council decisions which were found to be invalid due to insufficient or incorrect consultation and we discuss what they mean for future Council decision-making...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Sleepover Dispute Put to Bed
18 Oct 2011
Last month a settlement was reached in the four year dispute between Idea Services and the Service and Food Workers Union in what has become known as the "sleepovers case"...
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FYI:
Tax – Penny & Hooper - The Fallout
17 Oct 2011
You have probably seen or heard media coverage of the Supreme Court's recent decision in Penny & Hooper v CIR. It has had a lot more media airplay than the average tax avoidance case...
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FYI:
Asset Planning – Gift Duty's Gone - Do Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
17 Oct 2011
On 1 October 2011, gift duty was abolished. You now have the freedom to transfer assets and forgive debts without having to think about gift duty and filing gift statements. And it will no longer take a lifetime of gifting to transfer assets to your family trust...
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FYI:
Intellectual Property – New Zealand Adopts the Madrid Protocol
13 Oct 2011
After many years of consideration, New Zealand has adopted the Madrid Protocol, simplifying the process of protecting trade marks internationally...
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FYI:
Intellectual Property – Sun Setting on .XXX Domain Blocking Period
13 Oct 2011
The 'sunrise period' during which trade mark owners can file blocking registrations for corresponding domains under the adult entertainment industry's new .xxx top level extension is due to close on 28 October 2011...
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FYI:
Intellectual Property – New Weapons Against Criminal Trade Mark and Copyright Infringement
13 Oct 2011
Recent amendments to the Trade Marks Act 2002 and the Copyright Act 1994 have enhanced the government's ability to investigate and prosecute those who import and trade in counterfeit goods...
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FYI:
Climate Change & Emissions Trading – Crystal Ball Gazing the Future of the NZ ETS
10 Oct 2011
The Emissions Trading Scheme Review Panel has released its Final Report. Elisabeth Welson and Joanna Lim crystal ball gaze as to what the Panel's recommendations may mean for participants and others acquiring and disposing of units.
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FYI:
Climate Change & Emissions Trading – Crystal Ball Gazing the Future of the NZ ETS – a Focus on Agriculture and Forestry
10 Oct 2011
The Emissions Trading Scheme Review Panel has released its Final Report. Elisabeth Welson and Craig Nelson discuss what the Panel's recommendations may mean for the agriculture and forestry sectors.
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