Building practitioners: Are you licensed?
The Licensed Building Practitioners (“LBP”) regime came into full effect on 1 March 2012. It will come as no surprise to many in the industry as the regime has been in the pipelines for a number of years now to give those effected time to adjust. From 1 March 2012 any building work that comes within the definition of “restricted building work” and does not satisfy the DIY exemption must be carried out or supervised by an LBP.
Changes to the Charities Act
Three significant changes to the Charities Act have come into force from 25 February 2012.
Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 replaces Foreshore and Seabed Act
The purpose of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 is to restore and protect legitimate, customary interests and recognise the mana tuku iho exercised by iwi, hapū, and whānau as tangata whenua. The new Act is an attempt to acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which the former Act did not.
When is a charity not a charity?
It is a basic matter of law that to be able to be registered under the Charities Act, an organisation (whether a trust, society, or otherwise) must have a charitable purpose within one or more of the following “heads”.