Knowledge
RMA Reform: A New Planning Framework with Property Rights at its Core
Wednesday 26 March, 2025
The Government has released further details on its proposed Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) reform, building on signals made earlier this year and adopting recommendations from the Expert Advisory Group. The proposed framework aims to deliver what Minister Chris Bishop has described as a “radical transition to a far more liberal planning system with less red tape.”
Let's Combine Bylaws, Beaches, and Customary Interests
Thursday 20 March, 2025
In Hart v Marlborough District Council [2025] NZHC 47, the trustees of Te Runanga a Rangitāne o Wairau Trust, a charitable trust representing the Rangitāne o Wairau iwi, unsuccessfully challenged the lawfulness and procedural fairness of a decision by the Council to adopt the East Coast Beach Vehicle Bylaw 2023.
Rating Māori Land
Wednesday 19 March, 2025
A recent report on the use of the Local Government (Rating of Whenua Maori) Amendment Act 2021 to successfully relieve a landowner of an overwhelming historic rates burden has brought this piece of legislation to mind.
The art of copyright treatment in relationship breakups
Friday 14 March, 2025
The Supreme Court’s decision in Alalääkkölä v Palmer confirms that copyrights are property for the purposes of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA) and they may also be relationship property. This decision examines the unique nature of copyright and highlights the importance of having a ‘contracting out’ agreement when it comes to preserving your rights in intellectual property in the event of a relationship breakdown.
Court of Appeal Clarifies Gambling Licence Transfers
Monday 10 March, 2025
The Court of Appeal has ruled that businesses relocating cannot transfer their Class 4 venue licences under the Gambling Act 2003 without territorial authority consent. The case, GMA v FFNP, overturns the previous Waikiwi precedent, which allowed licence transfers in certain circumstances.