The case of the non-compliant swimming pool
The recent decision of Buchanan v Tasman District Council concerned determining whether (and to what extent) a Council could be held liable for a Code Compliance Certificate mistakenly having been issued on multiple occasions for a swimming pool at a residential property.
Hate Speech - What is it?
The term ‘hate speech’ does not appear in any New Zealand legislation. A general definition could be:
Any form of communication that is threatening, abusive or insulting to a serious degree against a group or a member of a group on the basis of a shared characteristic of that group such as religion, national origin, skin colour, race, etc.
Dog Walkers Beware!
The recent decision of the Court of Appeal in Low v New Plymouth District Council has important repercussions for both dog owners and anyone who looks after dogs for others.
Healthy Homes Standards - is your rental property ready?
The Healthy Homes Standards put in place minimum standards for New Zealand rental properties in terms of heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage, and draught-stopping. The standards come into force on different dates depending on the type of tenancy but all rental homes must be compliant with the standards by 1 July 2024.
Ending Tenancies at Short Notice for Family Violence
Last year, provisions were added to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 which allowed victims of family violence to leave a tenancy at short notice. Tenancy Services has now published guidance around these provisions to provide more clarity.
