Directors Duties – lessons from recent Whakaari/White Island litigation

Overview

Many people have a general understanding of a PCBU’s health and safety obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, but less well-known are directors’ obligations and the extent to which directors may be held personally liable for health and safety failings. Recent litigation in relation to the Whakaari/White Island eruption provides a timely reminder of these directors’ duties and a useful backdrop to dive into what is required of directors to meet their statutory obligations. 

James Hakaria

James advises corporate and private clients on general civil litigation and estate disputes, as well as construction and employment matters. 

James enjoys the challenge of solving problems, taking complex issues and making them simple, and achieving the best possible outcome for the client against a commercial backdrop. More recently, James has helped corporate clients understand the risk and challenges faced in the current economic climate, and the flow on effect of what that could mean for directors.    

Lucy Nolan

Lucy acts for clients in all aspects of employment law, including providing day-to-day employment advice such as drafting employment agreements, developing comprehensive employment documentation, manuals, policies, and codes of conduct.  Lucy also provides advice regarding performance management, misconduct, restructuring, redundancies, and the transfer of employees. 

Lucy regularly attends employment mediations; and acts for clients in Employment Relations Authority investigation meetings; and assists clients to navigate civil disputes in contractual, consumer, construction, and estate matters.

Additional information

Covid-19 precautions

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Additional requirements

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Branch event cancellation policy

Regrettably, registration fees cannot be refunded when cancellations are received within two working days prior to any branch event.

See our standard terms and conditions for more information.

Contact

Megan Beveridge
Bay of Plenty Branch Manager

+64 21 358 772
megan.beveridge@iod.org.nz

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