January 21, 2025 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Cyclone Gabrielle: an update on the response to the damaging effects of the Hawke’s Bay flooding

Written by Kevin Osborne and Dan Barclay  It has been 2 years since Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in 2023 caused widespread damage to the Hawke’s Bay region. Whilst people in residential areas are recovering more effectively, rural landowners across the region are still suffering from widespread effects of the Cyclone. Orders under the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Act (SWERLA) 2023 were made in June 2024 with the Hawke’s Bay Flood Protection Works and the Resource Management-Hawke’s Bay Rural...

January 20, 2025 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Disputes Tribunal Amendment Bill: Potential Change to the Access of Civil Justice in New Zealand

Written by Dan Barclay A Bill proposing to increase the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed its first reading in Parliament during November 2024. Many people are often deterred from pursuing claims as they cannot afford to take it to the District Court or the fees of going to Court exceed the value of claim they are pursuing. The proposed increase to the value of a claim allows for these claimants to have their case heard,...

January 17, 2025 In Bramwell Bate News By Cherie Hannam

Alalääkkölä v Palmer: rethinking Relationship Property and the importance of a contracting out agreement

Written by Saige Lindsay In February 2024, the Court of Appeal gave a precedent-setting judgment in the case of Alalääkkölä v Palmer regarding how copyrights are treated in the context of relationship property. Ms Alalääkkölä was a painter, who produced commercial art. The parties separated in 2017 following a 20-year marriage. Upon separation, Mr Palmer wished to continue managing the commercial art business. It was his argument that while Ms Alalääkkölä was the artist, he commercialised the work by promoting and...