The Covid-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020 ('the Covid-19 Act') came into effect on 26 March 2020. The single broad policy objective of the Act is to put in place the necessary arrangements in order to implement Covid-19 Alert Level 4.

We have been fielding an unprecedented (but understandable) number of queries from both tenant and landlord clients wanting to understand the legal position in respect of either termination of commercial leases, and obligations in respect of rental/outgoings payments.

As you may be aware, the Trusts Act ("Act") has received Royal Assent and will come into effect on 30 January 2021. Amongst other things the Act codifies the duties of trustees and requires greater transparency with beneficiaries. It will affect your current trust arrangements. You should consider reviewing, updating and making structural changes to your Trust if necessary, in order to future proof your Trust. The following is a summary of the key changes and how they may affect you.

I’m a father of four primary school age children, and a partner in a large Auckland law firm. I’ve been asked to write this opinion piece to provoke further public discussion and consideration of the issues surrounding the use of screens/technology in schools.

The Trusts Bill is currently pending its second reading at Parliament, and is expected to come into law some time in 2019. It will replace the Trustee Act 1956 and Perpetuities Act 1964 (both quite rightly described as "antiquated and overly complex"), but will not go so far as codifying all Trust law. The Bill does take some steps in the right direction by prescribing a number of everyday, administrative rules applicable to all "express" trusts (which include all discretionary family trusts), which will help clarify and simplify certain areas of Trust law.