Recent New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa Initiatives

Initiatives and statements by the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa in recent months include the following: Proposed barrister AML/CFT reporting requirements opposedRequiring AML/CFT reporting by barristers would impose an unnecessary and duplicative compliance burden that is disproportionate to any risk, the New Zealand Law Society |…

From the Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture: The art of adaptation

As this issue of LawTalk goes live, the COVID-19 Alert Level is about to go to two. While this is positive news, we are far from a return to normal with many restrictions still in place. This is another test of the flexibility and adaptability the profession has shown since Level…

The courts and the lockdown: Looking for transformational opportunities

Never before have New Zealand’s courts been disrupted to the extent that has occurred as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. Strong relationships and constant communication have been critical to the courts’ response and since 13 March the Chief Justice has been writing to the profession on a weekly…

Serious concerns raised about constitutional law changes in Samoa

Senior judges and lawyers in Samoa are concerned that significant constitutional reforms are being progressed rapidly during the current COVID-19 pandemic and without the necessary consultation. The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa shares these concerns. The Government of Samoa is advancing a suite of measures –…

New Zealand Law Society offers assistance to Epidemic Response Committee

Responding to the COVID-19 crisis requires a commitment to the fundamental values that underpin New Zealand's legal system, New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa President Tiana Epati says. Ms Epati has written to the Chair of the Epidemic Response Select Committee, Simon Bridges, offering the Law Society's assistance…

Law Society assists lawyers travelling to deliver essential services

The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has emailed all practising lawyers to assist them with providing proof when they are delivering essential services. This follows advice from the Secretary for Justice to the Law Society that the courts and tribunals of New Zealand are considered essential…

From the Law Society President Tiana Epati

COVID-19: the potential to thrive in uncertaintyAs this issue of LawTalk is delivered, we are watching the COVID-19 pandemic continue to unfold around the globe. In New Zealand, our history will record 11.59pm on 25 March 2020 as an historic moment, the exact time our country went into an unprecedented national…

April LawTalk to be delivered online

The April issue of the Law Society's monthly magazine LawTalk will be published on Friday, 3 April. However, it will not appear in hard copy. LawTalk will be distributed to all practising lawyers in an email, providing online links to most articles and also a flipbook of the whole magazine as…

Law Society President pays tribute to Chief High Court Judges

Justice Susan Thomas is to be congratulated on her appointment as Chief High Court Judge, New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa President Tiana Epati says. “The High Court Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa is our only court of general jurisdiction. It has been part of our country since 1841.…

Law Society seeks pro bono support for community law centres

All practising lawyers have been contacted by the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa to ask those with expertise in some areas of law are willing to assist community law centres in their COVID-19 response. The Law Society is working with the New Zealand Bar Association to…