Insight New law means employers face risk of criminal prosecution for intentional wage theft The Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill has now passed royal assent, becoming an enforceable provision of the Crimes Act 1961. This means that, under section 220AA of the Crimes Act 1961 (Crimes Act), it is now an offence for employers to intentionally fail to pay money owed to an employee under an employment agreement or statutory law (for example, under the Holidays Act 2003, the Minimum Wage Act 1983 and the Wages Protection Act 1983), without reasonable excuse. Read more
Insight Joint employment in New Zealand: can an employee have multiple employers? Traditionally, employers have been able to carefully structure their businesses using companies, groups of companies and other entities, to protect from, or minimise, potential employment liability. However, there have been several law changes in recent years that have muddied the waters and made it more difficult for employers to use their company structure as a “shield” against employee claims. Read more
Insight Legislative changes to support NZ’s build-to-rent housing sector The New Zealand Government has passed the Overseas Investment (Facilitating Build-to-Rent Developments) Amendment Bill (Bill) to support overseas investment in the Build-to-Rent (BTR) housing sector. This new piece of legislation aims to increase housing supply and provide more secure, affordable and quality rental options for New Zealanders. Read more
News Wynn Williams and SBM Legal combine to create leading employment practice Full-service national law firm Wynn Williams and one of New Zealand’s leading specialist employment firms, SBM Legal, have today announced their merger – creating one of the country’s largest and most experienced employment teams, based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtautahi Christchurch. Read more
News Wynn Williams acknowledged in 2025 Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings For another consecutive year, Wynn Williams has been acknowledged in Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings. Read more
Insight The year ahead in employment law: what to expect in 2025 In the last few months of 2024, the Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety (Minister) announced a raft of potential changes to Aotearoa New Zealand’s employment law framework. Further detail will be announced by the Government in due course, but below is a snapshot of what to expect in 2025. Read more
Insight Real estate agent complaints up 43% in 2023-24 The latest REA Annual Report reveals a sharp 41% increase in complaints, rising from 252 in 2023 to 361 in 2024. While factors like increased property transactions, eased lending conditions, and public willingness to report minor issues may have contributed, the rise appears to reflect broader trends rather than a decline in industry standards. Read more
News Wynn Williams recognised in Chambers & Partners 2025 guide For another consecutive year, Wynn Williams has been acknowledged in Chambers and Partners Global and Asia-Pacific legal directories. Read more
