Norris Ward McKinnon

RE-CAP: A week ago Justice Whata presented the 2024 NWM Law Lecture at The Pā, University of Waikato. The event was heavy with mana and respect for Justice Whata's knowledge on the place tikanga has in common law. A large group of local and visiting Judges, King's Counsel, lawyers, law students, and legal professionals attended. Many travelled long distances to be present. Our thanks to our partners, The University of Waikato and Te Piringa - Faculty of Law, for collaborating and co-hosting this prestigious event in our community.

Our humble thanks to the remarkable group of guests who gathered with us last night at The Pā, The University of Waikato, to hear Justice Whata share his findings on the common law of Tikanga - ngā tohu o te ture. It was an outstanding event; convivial, collegial, intellectual. Many of you travelled long distances to attend and we appreciate you. Great to see so many local practitioners and law students present also. We especially appreciate Te Piringa – Faculty of Law, our valued partner for the annual NWM Law Lecture, now in its 7th year. We look forward to bringing the 2025 lecture to our community next year.

An amendment Bill enabling victims of family violence to quickly dissolve abusive marriages is set to pass into law today, with unanimous support from both sides of the House. The Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill is now due to be read for a third and final time in Parliament, four years after Wellington woman Ashley Jones began her petition to her local MP for the law change. The Bill, nicknamed “Ashley’s Law”, will allow survivors of family violence to apply for a dissolution of marriage immediately following the making of a final protection order against an abusive spouse. The law has historically required spouses to live apart for two years prior to making an application to dissolve a marriage, with no exceptions for instances of family violence or abusive relationships. The Bill has enjoyed strong support from the public and both sides of the House, with Labour MP Deborah Russell, who is in charge to guiding the Bill through its final reading, acknowledging that this “particular change is really important because of the way that abusers can continue to abuse their ex-partner because they are tied to them legally”. The Bill therefore allows for survivors of family violence to affect a fast legal separation from their abusive spouse. Once passed, the Bill will amend the dissolution provisions of the Family Proceedings Act 1980 to give effect to the above changes. For more information, please contact our Family Disputes team. lawyers@nwm.co.nz

The NWM Law Lecture, cohosted with Te Piringa Faculty of Law - University of Waikato is set to be an outstanding event, presented by Justice Whata. Justice Whata will re-examine the leading authorities on tikanga from across the benches to address the claim that tikanga recognition is destabilising the law. He will consider what, when, and how tikanga claims should be litigated. Legal practitioners are welcome, however spaces are limited. Please RSVP to lawyers@nwm.co.nz

AWESOME OPPORTUNITY ... for an experienced Senior Associate litigator - with solid progression options including future partnership. Read more about the role and our offering on Seek or send your CV and cover letter to: lawyers@nwm.co.nz Or, reach out to our General Manager, Carmen Simmonds, on carmen.simmonds@nwm.co.nz https://lnkd.in/gx_84wMH

AWESOME OPPORTUNITY ... for an experienced Senior Associate litigator - with solid progression options including future partnership. Read more about the role and our offering on Seek or send your CV and cover letter to: lawyers@nwm.co.nz Or, reach out to our General Manager, Carmen Simmonds, on carmen.simmonds@nwm.co.nz https://lnkd.in/gx_84wMH

We're looking forward to hosting the next Sip & Shop event with Dress for Success Hamilton. Our reception space will be transformed into a shop full of new wardrobe opportunities. We welcome you to visit for a browse, sip, chat and mingle, while supporting this fantastic cause.

Ewen Macpherson - Associate! Ewen you've earned this recognition of your technical expertise and your approach to your role in the team and across the wider firm. You work tirelessly to help others; colleagues and clients. We're very proud and happy for you.

Warm congratulations to three oustanding members of our team for their recent promotions, effective 1 October. Natalie progresses from Administration Manager to become our Business Technology Manager. Rachael takes up a new Business Support Coordinator role, and Tyla has progressed into a Legal Assistant role. We're proud of you and look forward to each of you continuing to do great things for NWM.

We're looking forward to hosting the next Sip & Shop event with Dress for Success Hamilton. Our reception space will be transformed into a shop full of new wardrobe opportunities. We welcome you to visit for a browse, sip, chat and mingle, while supporting this fantastic cause.