Even when the documentation entered into between parties appears clear and able to be interpreted precisely, when the parties end up in a dispute, it is always quite fascinating to see how the actions or words of one or the other of them can be interpreted differently depending on which side of the dispute you are sitting.
The Building (Earthquake-Prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016 came into force on 1 July 2017. This Act makes changes to the Building Act 2004 and represents a new way for Territorial Authorities to deal with the identification and management of earthquake-prone buildings (EPBs). It aims to create consistency in how and when all Territorial Authorities deal with and provide the public with information about such buildings.
We are proud to recognise Freddy Faull, the recipient of the Auckland Law School Brookfields Scholarship for 2017.
Several well known franchise systems have recently made headlines in Australia in relation to Franchisees who have committed breaches of employment laws by underpaying staff and wage fraud. This has resulted in the Turnbull government introducing the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017 ("Aussie Bill"). This Bill provides that Franchisors will be held liable for workplace violations by their Franchisees if they have significant influence or control over the Franchisee; if they knew or should have known of the underpayments; and if they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the violations. For many commentators, while there is a recognition that some things need to change, this is seen as a step too far and some have even gone as far as to say that this would be the end of franchising in Australia as they know it.
On 1 March 2016, the Food Act 2014 ("Act") came into force. This put in place a new food safety and registration regime for businesses which are involved in food. Gone is the one size fits all approach to food safety; the higher risk the business presents in relation to food the more obligations it will have and all businesses which have an involvement in food now have obligations under the new Act.
Cashy Ball from Whakatane District Council was last night announced as the 2017 winner of the Brookfields Emerging Leader of the Year Award at the SOLGM Gala Dinner held in Auckland. Brookfields is delighted to be the sponsor of this award, which provides the opportunity for the winner to travel to the 2017 International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) in the USA. The quality of entrants was very impressive, and Cashy is a deserving winner.
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