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COVID-19

COVID-19 Protection Framework ends
At 11.59pm on Monday 12 September 2022, the COVID-19 Protection Framework came to an end after more than two years since New Zealand reported its first case of COVID-19....
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COVID-19 vaccination requirements: what do employers do now?
This week the Government made changes to vaccination requirements in the workplace, removing some...
Authority declines interim reinstatement claim for unvaccinated employees
Whilst the recent High Court decision of Yardley v Minister for Workplace Relations and...
Court sets aside police and defence vaccine mandates – should employers be concerned?
On 25 February 2022, the High Court released its judgment in Yardley v Minister...
COVID-19: What do I do if my employee has to self-isolate and cannot work from home?
Where employees have been advised to self-isolate in accordance with public health guidance and...
I see red, I see red, I see red
On 20 January 2022 the Government addressed how New Zealand would respond to an...
Vaccine mandates: consultation
The Employment Court in WXN v Auckland International Airport Limited recently overturned an Employment Relations...
Australian Health Department charged for H&S breaches leading to COVID outbreak
On 22 October 2021, the Health Department from the Victorian State in Australia, faced...
Traffic light system and mandating vaccinations in the workplace
Employment law in the COVID-19 space is moving at warp speed, and we are...
COVID-19: risking it all
There has been much speculation about COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health and childcare workers...
No jab, no job: what does the authority have to say?
So far, we have three decisions from the Employment Relations Authority (Authority) on whether...
Vaccinations in the workplace
New Zealand’s current approach to the COVID-19 pandemic is to stick with its elimination...
Here we go again, again – lockdown 2021 employment considerations
With the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta-variant in the community the country has swiftly...
No jab, no job: authority to determine justifiability
It is arguably the (employment law) question of 2021: can employers terminate their employees...
Crossing the ditch: it’s not all bubbly  
Ever since the long-promised Trans-Tasman travel bubble became a reality on 19 April 2021,...
Forcing the point of vaccinations
With a rather significant portion of New Zealanders (about one in four) expressing reservations...
Payment available to employers if employee cannot work and is waiting for COVID-19 test results
From 9 February 2021 the COVID-19 Short-term Absence Payment became available for businesses to...
Employment Court releases important COVID-19 decision
Were employees who did not perform work during Covid-19 entitled to receive minimum wage...
Ready, willing, but were they able?
With the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment overrun with employment disputes arising out...
What will the landscape of employment law look like post election?
With the election looming we thought we would take a quick look at what...
Employment relationship problem update
We have been advised that MBIE’s Mediation Services are inundated with mediation applications as...
Let’s Talk: Employment Law podcast EP5
As you may have already seen, our employment law team here at Lane Neave...
Privacy update: COVID-19 and contact tracing
Today, 24 August 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the current Alert Level restrictions...
More support for business under the government’s BFG scheme
The Minister of Finance yesterday announced a number of changes to the Business Finance...
Here we go again…
With Auckland in Level 3 and the rest of the country in Level 2,...
COVID-19 support still available for employers
In light of New Zealand being placed back into level 2 lockdown on 11...
Opinion: considerations for employers when employees want to continue to work from home after lockdown
As the COVID-19 lockdown hit and New Zealand morphed into what felt like a...
Privacy alert: COVID-19 contact tracing
At 11:59am Wednesday 12 August 2020 the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3...
Let’s Talk: Employment Law podcast
“Let’s Talk: Employment Law” is a video podcast discussing the latest in New Zealand...
Unenforceable penalty or protecting a legitimate interest?
Now is a good time to review any damages clauses contained in your commercial...
Online entrepreneurs: legal tips for your e-commerce business
Ever evolving technology solutions designed to connect businesses to a global customer base mean...
ERA and the Wage Subsidy
Valerie Raggett, Catherine Talbot, Francelle Burns, Nicholas Swan, Helena Nathan and Michelle Hood v...
New privacy laws come into force in December
New privacy laws are now set to come into force on 1 December 2020...
Temporary law change impacts commercial leases
Introduction In the fallout of COVID-19 and Government mandated lockdowns and restrictions, many businesses...
Privacy law update: contact tracing and recent High Court case
There have been two recent notable privacy developments.  The first concerns contact tracing obligations...
Immigration update for employers and HR professionals
Webinar: “Immigration update for employers and HR professionals.” Thursday 4 June 2020 12.00 –...
Tough new labour market testing guidelines for work visa applications
As predicted in our recent articles, webinars and comments, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has...
Insolvency and corporate law relief becomes law
On 15 May 2020 the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020 (Act)...
Changes to the Overseas Investment Act
On 13 May 2020, the Governments announced fast tracked changes to strengthen the Overseas...
Funding update: preparing for the ‘new normal’
In our recent update (see here), we discussed a number of practical matters for...
Student visas: a possible “lifeline” for former work visa holders
As the economic impact of COVID-19 continues to widen, many work visa holders in...
Lane Neave update as we move to Alert Level 2
The Government’s announcement regarding the move progressively from COVID-19 Alert Level Three to Alert...
Business as (un)usual: advancing M&A in a COVID-19 crisis
The current COVID-19 crisis has impacted the M&A market both domestically and internationally as...
Regulatory response – financial services and COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in particularly turbulent circumstances for listed issuers and those...
Unbridled power – Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill
The Minister of Immigration has introduced a Bill into Parliament today that proposes to...
Forced into a bubble – the law behind lockdown
In 2006 the threat of a human outbreak of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’...
New Zealand visa and immigration pathways: all you need to know
Webinar: “New Zealand visa and immigration pathways: all you need to know” Friday 8...
Processing priority of visa applications
On 17 April 2020, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced that, as of 16 April...
Contracting through uncertainty
With New Zealand set to come out of level 4 lockdown next week, many...
Alert Level 3: What it means for your workplace
The Prime Minister announced yesterday, that at 11:59pm on Monday 27 April 2020, New...
Coming out of lockdown – where to from here for employers?
Webinar “Coming out of lockdown – where to from here for employers?” Wednesday 29...
What does COVID-19 Alert Level 3 mean for commercial leases
Following the Government’s announcement that the COVID-19 alert level will drop from Alert Level...
Government support for commercial landlords and tenants
Since the Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown commenced in New Zealand commercial landlords and tenants...
Immigration New Zealand start processing some standard visa applications
On 17 April 2020 Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced that they are now able...
Frequently asked questions – for employees
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on countries around the world,...
Frequently asked questions – for employers of migrant workers
Q: We have an employee on an interim visa, are we able to claim...
Relaxation of visa conditions for all workers delivering essential services
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has made the long-awaited announcement on temporary visa variations to...
COVID-19: immigration considerations for healthcare workers
As the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to grow, the immigration related uncertainties...
Main COVID-19 policy announcements as at 1.30pm, 9 April 2020
Many of you will be aware that there have been numerous policy changes/announcements since...
COVID-19 and migrant worker employees – FAQs for employers
Q: We have an employee on an interim visa, are we able to claim...
COVID-19 – changes to consumer credit and financial services regulation announced
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, New Zealand’s financial market regulators have recently implemented...
Equity upsides – alternative ways for lenders to support businesses in uncertain times
Recent events have left many businesses in a position where they face an uncertain...
Commercial lease issues amidst COVID-19
Commercial leases Never has there been a time of greater scrutiny of commercial lease...
Employees’ rights to public holiday payments during the COVID-19 lockdown
As the Easter holidays are approaching, there is a lot of confusion around how...
Safe harbours for directors’ duties & debt hibernation regime during COVID-19
On 3 April 2020 the New Zealand Government announced that they are introducing changes...
The impact of COVID-19 on your funding arrangements
Accessing funding during COVID-19 As the extent of the economic impacts of COVID-19 continues...
During and post lockdown: top tips for employers of migrant workers
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will have massive implications for employers of migrant...
COVID-19: employment alert
The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving rapidly, and so too are the clarifications and corrections...
Supporting you through COVID-19
Lane Neave is a proud Service Provider affiliate of the Regional Business Partner Network...
Epidemic management notice issued – immigration ramifications and visa processing
For the first time the New Zealand Government has issued an Epidemic Management Notice...
Employer’s obligations during Alert Level 4
While we are still awaiting further specifics on what Alert Level Three and Four...
COVID-19 border closure – the fine print
At 11.59 pm on Thursday 19 March 2020 New Zealand, for the very first...
COVID-19: Government rescue package may not be enough for some employers
The Government rescue package announced on 17 March 2020 will provide substantial relief for...
Leading through uncertainty
At a time of crisis, the leaders of a business need to take action...
We can get through this together
The potential impact of COVID-19 is constantly evolving as case numbers in New Zealand...
COVID-19 rescue package: employment need to knows
Finance Minister, Grant Robertson announced yesterday a $12.1b package to help alleviate the economic...
Coronavirus – government rescue package and privacy update
Government rescue package   The Government has, today, announced a multi-million dollar rescue package...
Employer’s obligations and COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
On 14 March 2020, the New Zealand Government announced that there will be stricter...
Coronavirus’ impact on New Zealand business
The number of infections and fatalities arising from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to...
COVID-19 update: an evolving situation
On 2 March the New Zealand Government extended new travel restrictions related to Covid-19...
Expect substantial delays to work visa applications
The Associate Deputy Chief Executive of Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has released a statement...
Travel ban update & change of priority processing on residence applications
Following our recent article Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has reviewed its travel ban in...