Regulatory Changes Underfoot What Flooring Pros Need to Know About the Building Overseas Building Products Standards and Certification Schemes Amendment Bill
Rebecca Richter, Lawyer, Ford Sumner Lawyers. New Zealand’s construction sector is undergoing a significant regulatory update that will impact all contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, including those in the flooring industry. The Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill (the Bill) aims to streamline the use of overseas building products and ensure they meet New […]
Small Homes, Big Opportunities: What the Building and Construction (Small Stand-alone Dwellings) Amendment Bill Means for Contractors
Rebecca Richter, Lawyer, Ford Sumner Lawyers New Zealand’s construction sector is undergoing a significant regulatory update that will impact all homeowners, contractors, architects and insurers. The Building and Construction (Small Stand-alone Dwellings) Amendment Bill (the Bill) aims to streamline the process of building small stand-alone dwellings, otherwise known as granny flats. If you’re a residential builder, subcontractor, […]
Keep the cash flowing – tips to get paid – Part 2
Rebecca Richter, Lawyer, Ford Sumner Lawyers Cashflow is king for any small contractor — yet late payments or clients who don’t pay at all can cripple your business. But one powerful tool can help protect your cash flow – making sure your invoices are valid payment claims under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA). Do you have small […]
Christmas Special: Employment law tips for the holiday season
As the festive season approaches, it’s the perfect time for employers to start planning, not just for a well-earned break, but for the unique workplace issues that can arise at this time of year. From managing holiday leave, to hosting Christmas parties, and handling staff conduct, a little forward-thinking can prevent issues from spilling over […]
Keep the Cash Flowing – Tradie Tips to Get Paid – Part 1
Rebecca Richter, Lawyer, Ford Sumner Lawyers Cashflow is king for any contractor — yet late payments, unclear terms, or clients who don’t pay at all can cripple your business. A good contract is your first line of defence. Here are practical tips to help you lock in better contract terms and get paid on time, every […]
Big Win for Subcontractors on Retentions
The High Court of New Zealand has delivered a landmark ruling in Burt & Ors v Grant [2025] NZHC 2486, and it is great news for subcontractors who’ve had retentions withheld. Ford Sumner, which powers Tradie law, was proud to represent the successful subcontractors in this case, securing a decision which provides long needed guidance for subcontractors’ […]
Breaks legislation – Do employees have to take breaks?
The law regarding break allowances for employees changed in 2019 The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 amended the Employment Relations Act 2000 to state that: “an employee is entitled to, and the employee’s employer must provide the employee with, rest breaks and meal breaks”. Are you up to speed with the changes and what they require? What […]
Dealing with statutory demands during the Christmas and New Year period
After a long and busy year, it can be easy for company directors to overlook key obligations and timeframes over the Christmas and New Year period. However, it is fundamental that company officers remain alert to any formal notices or demands received over this period so appropriate and timely action is taken to protect the […]
Subbies suck it up again? Stanley Group collapse leads to calls for subbie protection
On 5 September 2019, Auckland and Waikato-based Stanley Group/Tallwood became the latest in a long line of construction companies to go to the wall. Initial estimates put the amount owed to creditors at $5 million, with individual subcontractors reportedly owed up to $600,000. Stanley Group’s projects included building homes for Housing New Zealand and a […]
Solvency – A Plague On Directors’ Minds
Solvency issues are top of mind for many Kiwi businesses in the face of the prolonged disruption caused by COVID-19, together with rising interest rates, inflation and supply chain issues. For directors though, solvency issues raise the prospect of personal liability – with directors duties requiring careful thought and constant attention. In this article, we […]