News - Mortlock McCormack Law | Property and Commercial Law | Christchurch, New Zealand

An update on New Zealand’s Employment Law

May 2026 From 21 February 2026, four key changes under the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 (ERA) came into force. Below is a general explanation of each change and who it may impact. Contractor vs employee status: the Gateway Test The Gateway ...

Converting Your Cross Lease to Fee Simple Ownership

March 2026 While cross-leases are a common form of property ownership, they do bring with them restrictions on what owners can or cannot do with their property. This is often relevant when an owner wishes to carry out alterations such as extending their ...

Understanding Your Health and Safety Obligations: A Guide for Small Business Owners in New Zealand

March 2026 As a small business owner in New Zealand, ensuring the health and safety of your workers is not just a moral responsibility, it is a legal obligation under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (the Act). This legislation places significant ...

Trusts Act Disclosure Rules

March 2026 The Trusts Act 2019 (Trusts Act) came into force in New Zealand in 2021 and introduced explicit obligations for trustees to disclose information to beneficiaries. Some Trusts have embraced disclosure as a necessary part of modern trust ...

Rising Insurance Risks

March 2026 Increasing natural hazard risks are reshaping the insurance landscape in New Zealand, with some insurers now declining coverage in high-risk areas. It is evident that both prospective purchasers and current homeowners will face challenges in the ...

Mortlock McCormack Law Turns 20

March 2026 On 1 April 2006, Simon Mortlock Partners and McCormack Law merged to form Mortlock McCormack Law, moving into the AMP Building in Cathedral Square. Over the past two decades, the firm has grown and evolved, taking on new challenges and steadily ...

Olivia Durston’s Admission

March 2026 Olivia Durston began working at Mortlock McCormack Law in 2023 as an Administration Assistant and has worked steadily towards her admission since then. In December 2025, after years of hard work, she was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the ...

Amberley Show

December 2025 In November, Mortlock McCormack Law sponsored the Amberley Show. We had a table in the Pavillion, where we judged produce, baking, art and more. Principals Hamish Douch and Emily Flaszynski awarded the Mortlock McCormack Supreme Pavilion award to a ...

Staff News

December 2025 Welcome Kirsten Fox, Solicitor, joined us in September Jo McMecking, Legal Secretary, joined us in September Julie Wiltshire, Finance Administrator, joined us in November Baby News Three of the MML team have recently welcomed boys to their ...

Indoor Cricket World Cup Highlights

December 2025 In September, I had the privilege of representing New Zealand at the Indoor Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka. This was more than just a sporting event. It was a life-changing experience that proved with hard work, dedication, and the support of ...