Earthquake Claims Hit 300,000

Your Christchurch Solicitor brings you this update on claims arising from the Christchurch earthquakes. In a city with not much over 400,000 residents, it is staggering that The Earthquake Commission (EQC) have received over 300,000 claims for damage arising out of the various earthquakes which have beset Christchurch and surrounds since September 4^th 2010.

Livestock Tracing Bill Passes First Reading

Livestock Tracing Bill Passes First Reading

Ultra Fast Broadband Rollout Begins

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The long awaited rollout of ultra fast broadband in New Zealand is underway with Manaia View School in Whangarei being chosen as the site for the first fibre cable laid there recently. In a significant development in New Zealand laws the government has pledged its support of the project and in excess of $1.5 billion in funding.

Steven Joyce, Minister of Communications and Information attended the ceremony at the school to mark the commencement of works had the following to say.

 “This the first stage in a government plan which will see fibre enabling speeds of at least 100 Mbps rolled out to 75 per cent of New Zealanders where they live, work and study.

“The UFB policy is a key platform for the government and after a huge amount of work behind the scenes I’m pleased now to see some concrete results,” says Mr Joyce.

The crown has pledged to invest $1.5 billion in the UFB rollout and a new government agency, Crown Fibre Holdings, has been set up to manage the project.

Overall, in excess of 50,000 people in Whangarei will benefit form the fibre rollout by 2014. This will include more than 2,000 business in the region as well as over 300 healthcare services and 20 schools.

Further deals have been signed to facilitate the rollout of fibre in other centres including Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hawera and Tokoroa.

New Zealand is lagging considerably behind European countries is this area and the rollout of ultra-fast broadband is a crucial part of the essential infrastructure of a productive and growing economy and will be vital to New Zealand improving its competitive advantage in the global market. In commenting on this. Stephen Joyce had this to say.

“The future of broadband is in fibre, and taking it right to the home will bring significant gains for productivity, innovation and global reach.

“This is an exciting day for Whangarei and for New Zealand.”

new laws web site aims to brign you posts on areas of relevance in new zealand law from time to time. If you have any query on a legal subject however, you are recopmmended to contact your Christchurch Lawyer.

More Builders To Be Licensed In Canterbury

More Builders To Be Licensed In Canterbury

The department of building and housing is to host an expo at Christchurch Boys’ High School tomorrow which will be aiming to add to the numbers of licensed builders assisting in the mammoth task of rebuilding Canterbury in the wake of the September 4 earthquake.

The primary reason for this initiative is to engender confidence among consumers and accountability for builders. In announcing the initiative Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said. “For owners, using Licensed Building Practitioners means confidence that homes will be repaired right first time,”.

In the aftermath of the 7.1 earthquake over 1,100 builders, designers and other tradespeople have either been licensed already or have current applications  underway. That can be compared to the paltry 165 who were licensed before the earthquake.

 “This Saturday presents an opportunity to push that number even higher, so we have the right people on the ground as demand for quality builders increases.”

Heatley announced that it is the government’s hope to see 1,600 licenses issued in Canterbury by the end of this month.

 “The upswing in the number of people licensed to carry out essential building work means that people are going to be able to get back into their homes faster, and can be confident about quality workmanship.”

New Laws and New Zealand laws are sites which have been established with the express purpose of bringing you regualsr updsates on New Zealand law as well as announcements from parliament. For specialist advice on any area of law you should contact your expert legal advisors in Canterbury.

$13 Million Housing Development In Tamaki

$13 Million Housing Development In Tamaki

40 New state homes are to be built in Tamaki in a $13 Million dollar project, Housing Minister Phil Heatley announced today. The new housing estate is part of the redevelopment of the East Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes, Panmure and Point England known as the Tamaki transformation programme.

"The redevelopment plans for Kings Rd involve replacing 15 old and rundown bedsit units with 40 modern units within four individual two and three storey buildings," says Mr Heatley.

"The new units will be lighter, warmer and bigger and have two bedrooms. They are specifically designed for older people, with ground floor units suitable for people with disabilities.

"Through good design the number of units on the site will be more than doubled so that more people in need can enjoy the benefits of good quality affordable housing," Mr Heatley said.  

"This new development makes the best possible use of the available land. We need to be wise about how we tackle redevelopment opportunities to ensure that we get the best value for our resources. Clever design here means the number of homes have been increased from 15 to 40 and they will be much bigger – it’s a win-win," says Mr Heatley.

The initial development, in Kings Road, Panmure, is scheduled to be completed by November 2011. Whilst on site in Tamaki to turn the first sod in the development, the minister also visited state tenants who have had their homes modernized.

"Many of the state homes in Tamaki are over 60 years old and in need of an upgrade to make them warmer and drier. Through the Tamaki Transformation Programme, Housing New Zealand are modernising 120 homes in the area over a three year period," he said.

"This means the tenants will live in insulated homes with decent bathrooms and kitchens. We know that good quality, affordable housing is linked to better health, educational performance, wealth and personal security, and strengthens communities and neighbourhoods."

The New Zealand Laws site aims to bring you regular updates on aqnnouncements form parliament as well as posts on new laws as they pass through parliament. For advice on any specific area of law you should contact your specialist legal advisors.

New Zealand Laws | 2025 Report Acknowledges Long Term Challenge

New Zealand Laws | 2025 Report Acknowledges Long Term Challenge

Finance Minister Bill English stated in a press release today that the second 2025 Taskforce report shows that the National Government has taken steps to lift New Zealand's sustainable economic growth, but catching up with Australia will be a long-term challenge according to English.

 "Budget 2010 took several steps in that direction – including across the board personal tax cuts on 1 October that narrow the gap in after-tax incomes with Australia," Mr English says.

 "However the report shows just how challenging it will be to catch up to Australia by 2025, especially as we continue to recover from a recession - started under Labour - that Australia never had.

 "Our first step has been to get the economy out of recession and growing again. We've now had five consecutive quarters of growth and we've put in place a broad programme of action, which will provide a platform for future growth.

 “The Taskforce’s report – part of ACT's confidence and supply agreement with National - raises some interesting ideas, which will hopefully generate constructive debate. The Government will consider some of those ideas, alongside the range of other advice we receive, and make practical decisions.

 "However we disagree with the Taskforce report's authors about the ideal speed of reform.

 "History shows that reforms done at breakneck speed tend to be fairly counterproductive. If you don't take the time to convince people of the benefits of change there's a good chance the next government will simply reverse them.

 "We are already moving in some of the directions suggested in the report. As well as cutting personal and corporate taxes, we have put a cap on new Government spending, have put better incentives into the welfare system and are reviewing major regulation.

 "But any changes must meet the tests of fairness and equity, be consistent with our election promises and occur at a sustainable pace.

 "The only way we can permanently lift New Zealand's economic growth is through considered and consistent reform and change, year after year," Mr English says.

New Zealand laws aims to bring you updates on new law as well as topical information from parliament. For advice on any area of law we recommend that you contact your specialist legal advisors.

 

New Zealand Laws | Call For Crewe Murder Inquiry To Be Reopened

New Zealand Laws | Call For Crewe Murder Inquiry To Be Reopened

Arthur Allan Thomas, who was granted a royal pardon in 1979 after having spent 9 years in jail wrongly convicted of the murder of Harvey and Jeanette Crewe has backed a call from Mr and Mrs Crewe’s only daughter Rochelle for the case to be reopened.

The murders, which occurred 40 years ago, remain a black mark against the police force in New Zealand. A royal commission found that detectives on the case framed Mr Thomas by burying a shell casing from his rifle in the garden at the Crewe’s farmhouse, south of Auckland.

In her statement, Rochelle Crewe was critical the decision of the Solicitor-General at the time, Paul Neazor, QC, not to lay charges against detectives Bruce Hutton and Len Johnston. The head of the 1980 commission, Justice Robert Taylor from Australia said what they had done was "an unspeakable outrage".

Police Commissioner Harvey Broad was quoted as saying "What's coming out is that there are a lot of unanswered questions about this case, and a lot of contested questions, and people are looking for answers. Whether or not it's possible to do that [reinvestigate], I'm not sure."

Police Union chief Greg O'Connor said the case had long been a black mark against the police. "When you consider that my generation of police officers have had that thrown in our faces continuously ... maybe a properly conducted inquiry wouldn't be a bad idea."

Prime Minister John Key said it was unlikely that the Government would set up an independent investigation, but he did not rule it out.

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