The doctrine of Quantum Meruit is alive and well
Tim Bates of Auckland law firm TM Bates & Co reviews the 2020 High Court decision of Electrix Ltd v Fletcher Construction Company Ltd...
Time is money: Variations, extensions of time, and time-related costs in NZS 3910:2023 and...
Being fairly compensated for variations that involve an extension of time to the construction programme can be an uphill battle for contractors. Rob Clarke...
When is consent unreasonably withheld to structural alterations on a cross-leased property?
Tim Bates of Auckland law firm TM Bates & Co reviews new Court of Appeal authority which changes the common law position as to...
Protecting contractor margins in a high-risk industry
New Zealand’s construction industry continues to struggle in a difficult economic climate where global instability, persistent inflation and continued supply chain uncertainty mean that...
Construction Contracts Act 2002 revisited — what constitutes a payment schedule?
Tim Bates of Auckland law firm TM Bates & Co looks at the case of Construction Advantage Ltd v Eljayej Holdings Ltd that was...
Biggest building consent reform in decades due in 2026
Over the past year, the Government has introduced a series of changes to building consent requirements aimed at reducing delays, costs, and inconsistencies across...
Law changes afoot, including bigger penalties and longer suspensions for builders
Tim Bates of Auckland law firm TM Bates & Co summarises recent announcements about the end of joint and several liability principles in favour...
A major shake-up: Earthquake strengthening rules overhauled
The Government has announced an overhaul of New Zealand’s earthquake-prone building system, marking the most significant regulatory shift in seismic standards since the post-Canterbury...
Liability and legislative reform in New Zealand: Whose fault is it anyway?
The recent announcement by the coalition Government of its intention to introduce a proportionate liability framework within New Zealand represents one of its pillars...
Private building consent authorities — how will their emergence impact the construction sector?
Efficiency and cost of consenting is a constant source of ire within the construction sector. However, something has now changed. For the first time since...