Leaky home lessons
The High Court decision of Keys & Others v Patterson & Others [2025] NZHC 2676 was a leaky building case highlighting issues for councils involved...
Category : Legal
Government sets consent expectations
Chris Bishop, the Minister for RMA Reform, along with the Ministers for Agriculture and the Environment, has sent clear expectations to all regional and unitary...
Seismic sense on its way
The earthquake-prone building system brought in almost 10 years ago as a reaction to the Christchurch quakes will be refocused to reduce repair costs. “While...
Lesson from High Court ruling on traffic measures
A self-represented law student has had success in the High Court over a raised pedestrian crossing and speed humps installed on a beachside street, but...
Water services reform: What’s happening, and when?
We have received a number of questions about Government changes to water services delivery, write Paul Buetow, Partner; Ezekiel Hudspith, Partner; and Miles Rout, Solicitor...
Right to know – withholding information
Image: Birmingham City Council House. In our local government system, local authorities are served by two separate yet equally important groups: the elected councillors who...
More overseas building products – the risks
The Government is making it easier for overseas building products to be used here by providing assurance that building consent authorities will accept them as...
Lessons in the building approval processes
In a recent decision of the Christchurch High Court, the Christchurch City Council successfully defended a summary judgment application, writes Sarah Macky, Partner at Heaney...
Are councils ‘Treaty’ partners?
By Mike Doesburg and Emma Burns, lawyers specialising in local government and environmental law at Wynn Williams. This year, considerable debate has been had about...
Adhering to procedural rules
By Frana Divich (Partner), Heaney and Partners. In a recent judgement, the High Court rejected an application for an extension of time to serve a...