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The Law Lowdown – WINTER 2025
Catch up on all the news and information in this edition of The Law Lowdown Inside this issue: Download your copy here
CHARITY TAX REFORMS PAUSED – FOR NOW …
The Government’s proposed changes to the tax treatment of charities have sparked significant concern across the charitable sector. While the reforms have now been put on hold, they have not been withdrawn—and are expected to resurface in revised form. BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES The proposals sought to tighten rules around business income earned by charitable entities, particularly where that income is retained or used overseas. Under the proposed changes, income would only remain tax-exempt if it was applied for
Why You Should Have Enduring Powers of Attorney in Place
Planning ahead isn’t just about writing a will – it also involves ensuring that trusted people can make decisions for you if you are no longer able to do so. In New Zealand, this is done through Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs), and every adult should consider having these in place. There are two types of EPAs: Personal Care and Welfare EPA – This allows someone you trust (your attorney) to make decisions about your health, medical treatment, and general
Statutory Demands: What Creditors and Companies Need to Know
If a company owes a debt and hasn’t paid, creditors in New Zealand have a legal tool known as a statutory demand to help recover what’s owed. Under section 289 of the Companies Act 1993, a statutory demand is a formal written notice that requires the company to pay the debt, come to an arrangement, or dispute it within a strict timeframe. If not dealt with, serious consequences can follow—including the risk of liquidation. What is a Statutory Demand? A
Understanding Separate vs Relationship Property
Under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA), everything a couple owns is sorted into two baskets when they separate or when one partner dies: relationship property and separate property. Knowing which basket an asset falls into can prevent costly arguments later. Relationship property Most things acquired during a marriage, civil union or qualifying de-facto relationship (usually three years or more) are presumed to belong to both partners equally. Typical examples include: Separate property Separate property normally stays with the person
The Law Lowdown – AUTUMN 2025
Catch up on all the news and information in this edition of The Law Lowdown Inside this issue: Download your copy here
