By Mike Mitchell, Senior Associate. 
Changes to the Overseas Investment Act 2005 will come into force on 22 October 2018. The amendments have implications for overseas persons looking to purchase residential land, and also forestry and horticulture land. This article will focus on interesting changes for the overseas purchase of forestry land.
By James Cambridge, Partner. 
Many of us have done our own renovation work to our property. One of the main ways onto the property ladder is still to purchase a dated property and do some renovation work to make it fresh and new again.
However when looking to do renovation work you need to consider the extent of the works you are contemplating and whether you will need building consent.
By James Cambridge, Partner. 
Trees are a common backyard feature. They are home to wildlife, improve the quality of air and add to the beauty of our landscapes. BUT they also cause problems and occasionally fall down.
If a neighbouring tree is causing problems and interfering with the use and enjoyment of your land, what are your rights and how far do they extend?
It has become increasingly difficult for first home buyers to enter the property market in New Zealand. The amount of deposit required in most regions has increased significantly, with house prices growing at a fast rate in comparison to peoples’ incomes. Banks have put tighter controls on low deposit lending and a flow on effect is large numbers of first home buyers purchasing properties with the help of their parents. This is usually by them either acting as a guarantor on the mortgage or advancing funds as a gift or a loan to help with the deposit.
The first question we usually ask when assisting someone buying a property, whether residential or commercial, is - do you have the money available to purchase, and if you don’t are you able to borrow to finance the purchase?