Policy and bills

Class actions and litigation funding - Law Commission report released

We provide a summary of the Law Commission's final report and our own submissions.

• Accountability
• Director duties
• Insurance

Non-publication of directors' residential addresses – developments in 2021

A new bill will give directors the choice to make their residential address publicly available on the companies register, or not.

• Privacy

Director Identification Numbers – Australian update

The Australian Treasury Laws Amendment (Registries Modernisation and Other Measures) Act 2020.

• Privacy

Addressing temporary migrant worker exploitation

The government has announced a number of policy and operational changes aimed at reducing the exploitation of temporary migrant workers.

• Compliance
• Conduct
• Director duties

Improving conduct of financial institutions

Reforms aimed at improving the conduct of financial institutions and their intermediaries in providing services and products to consumers…

• Accountability
• Compliance
• Conduct

More protection coming for whistleblowers

The Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Bill replaces the Protected Disclosures Act 2000 and is intended to strengthen…

• Whistleblowing

Charities Act review

In 2019, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) initiated the first review of the Charities Act 2005 to ensure it is fit for purpose.

• Not for profits

Improving the transparency of beneficial ownership

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) consulted on measures to improve the transparency of beneficial ownership of…

Proposed duty for directors of deposit takers

Treasury has been consulting on proposed changes to the prudential framework for deposit takers in New Zealand.

• Accountability
• Compliance
• Director duties

Strengthening body corporate governance

Changes are being proposed to the Unit Titles Act which sets out the law relating to high-density housing.

• Accountability
• Conflict of interests
• Director duties

Climate-related financial disclosures

The Financial Sector (Climate-related disclosures and other Matters) Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament in April 2021.

• Climate change
• ESG
• Financial reporting

What leaders of incorporated societies need to know about the new Bill

The introduction of the Incorporated Societies Bill into Parliament last week was a landmark moment for not-for-profit governance in NZ.

• Conflict of interests
• Director duties
• Not for profits

IFRS Foundation consults on global sustainability reporting

The trustees of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation have published a consultation paper.

• Climate change
• ESG
• Reporting frameworks

Directors to be personally liable for company PAYE and GST debt?

The government has signalled that it will make directors personally liable for company PAYE and GST debt following a recommendation from…

• Liability

Proposed amendments to retention money regime include personal liability for dir...

Following a review of the retention money scheme for construction contracts under the Construction Contracts Act 2002.

• Liability