Overseas Investment Amendment Bill

The Overseas Investment Amendment Bill had its first reading on 19 December 2017 and is currently being considered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee.  The Bill amends the Overseas Investment Act 2005 to restrict the ability of non-residents to buy homes or residential land in New Zealand, so as to make homes more affordable for New Zealand buyers.  The Bill can be read online: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2017/0005/latest/whole.html#DLM7512925

Gender Equitable Engagement and Instruction Policy Launched

The Gender Equitable Engagement and Instruction Policy was launched on 5 December 2017.  The policy aims to improve the recognition and advancement of women in the legal profession.  Adopters of the policy are to use reasonable endeavours to have women lawyers take lead roles in at least 30% of court and arbitral proceedings and major regulatory investigations by the end of next year.  Read about the policy here: http://www.lawsociety.org.nz/practice-resources/the-business-of-law/legal-practice/background-on-the-gender-equitable-engagement-and-instruction-policy

Human Rights Commission Annual Report

The Human Rights Commission has released its annual report for the 2016/2017 year.  Among other things, the report recorded that 5,453 new human rights enquiries and complaints in were made in 2016/17, an increase of 117 from the previous year.  The report also provides a summary of key human rights achievements in 2016/17, including the launch of campaigns against racism, for an inquiry into abuse in state care and engagement with various United Nations bodies.  The report is available here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/papers-presented/current-papers/document/PAP_75829/human-rights-commission-te-k%C4%81hui-tika-tangata-annual#RelatedAnchor

LawFuel Power List 2017

Online legal publisher LawFuel has published its annual list of New Zealand’s 50 most powerful lawyers, featuring a number of Bankside Chambers members.  View the list at http://www.lawfuel.com/power-list-2017/

Trump’s judicial nominee unable to answer basic legal questions

Donald Trump’s latest judicial nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Matthew Peterson, was forced to withdraw after being unable to demonstrate legal experience or answer simple procedural questions.  As summarised in The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/16/matthew-peterson-judges-robes):

Petersen had never tried a case in any court, in front of a jury or otherwise. Never taken a deposition on his own. Never argued a motion in court. Couldn’t answer basic questions about accepting evidence in court.

You can read more (and watch the video) here: https://www.legalcheek.com/2017/12/trumps-judicial-nominee-withdraws-after-struggling-to-answer-basic-legal-questions/

By Anjori Mitra

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