Legal

RealNZ has been granted diversion and ordered to pay $100,000 to Environment Southland for upgrading boat moorings at Harrison Cove in Milford Sound without consent.

Te Waikoropupū Springs near Takaka in Golden Bay will be the first water body in 10 years to receive special legal protection.

The court finds that the booking agents did not have a duty to visitors, nor did they have workers on the island.

Charges against the owners of Whakaari White Island over the deadly 2019 eruption have been thrown out.

Christchurch hospitality and accommodation provider Springs Junction Café and Motor Inn has been fined $36,000 for breaching multiple employment standards during the 2020 Covid pandemic.

The action comes after a complaint from a former customer, who gambled at SkyCity Auckland.

A Northland operator is sentenced after South Korean visitor Jin Chang Oh died while sandboarding in 2019.

Survivors of the Whakaari White Island tragedy are taking the stand today at the Auckland District Court.

Three helicopter tour operators charged by WorkSafe plead guilty just days before the trial starts.

White Island Tours says it is devastated by the disaster and has not operated to the island there since.

KiwiRail has been fined $350,000 and ordered to pay $30,000 in reparations after a worker was injured on an Interislander ferry.

Bachcare GM Tracey Foxall says the company always strives to be fair to both guests and holiday home owners.

Christchurch Adventure Park says it is “disappointed” in the Court of Appeal decision to uphold a High Court ruling that found the operator’s chairlift helped spread the 2017 Port Hills fires.

Financial crime regulator AUSTRAC launched civil proceedings on Wednesday against SkyCity Adelaide for allegedly breaching anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.

The men attempted to smuggle 4.6 kilograms of methamphetamine through New Zealand’s border.

Strandbags has been ordered to pay a $780,000 fine after it was found to be misleading consumers with discounting and sales practices.

Cornwall Park Trust Board acted unlawfully by leasing part of Auckland Showgrounds to a film studio for three months this year, causing some of the country’s largest events to cancel or suffer postponements, according to a ruling from the High Court in Auckland.

KiwiRail and Higgins Towing Services have been sentenced and fined in the Wellington District Court for failing to provide a safe working environment.

Worksafe has issued a warning to suppliers and operators of amusement devices, such as inflatable slides, to ensure they are eliminating or minimising risks to health and safety.

TIA raises concerns with the proposals, including using associations as one of the negotiating parties.

Forest & Bird is taking legal action against the Department of Conservation’s decision to allow a marina developer to displace a little penguin colony at Waiheke Island.

The operator has made a raft of changes to help prevent a similar incident from happening again.

Responsible Campers Association is renewing calls for an enquiry into freedom camping in New Zealand.

Whether or not attractions or hotels can exclude unvaccinated visitors is still unclear, says an employment law expert.

A Department of Conservation ranger has been ordered to pay reparation of $10,400 by the Whanganui District Court for a jet boat collision with a kayaker on the Whanganui River in November 2020.

Six baggage handlers at Auckland Airport have been arrested for importing methamphetamine and conspiring to import methamphetamine.

Auckland’s controversial Accommodation Provider Targeted Rate is ruled invalid by the Court of Appeal.

Southern Discoveries says it has taken measures to improve safety after a worker was seriously injured on one of its scenic passenger vessels.

The Green Party hopes to enable tenants and landlords to backdate any adjustments in rent due during Covid-19 alert levels 3 and 4 under commercial leases to cover the full lockdown period.

A review finds some of the agency’s actions “unacceptable and not able to be justified”.

The charge relates to a January 2010 flight involving passengers from Milford Sound.

Overseas investor Seung Heun Lee bought Northland properties worth $10.4m without consent.

SkyCity’s Adelaide business is under investigation by Australia’s financial watchdog.

A two-day administrative hearing begins today in Whakatāne District Court to hear charges laid by Worksafe against 13 parties in the Whakaari/White Island eruption over alleged health and safety breaches.

Shifting control of the conservation estate to iwi could have implications for tourism.

Hotel has been attempting to renew lease for Waitangi National Trust Reserve land since May 2020.

QLDC’s lease to Queenstown Airport Corporation has been cast aside.

The hotel group has launched legal action over the lease renewal of the land on which its Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands is situated.

CAP says it is taking legal advice after the High Court found the operator’s chairlift spread the 2017 Port Hills fires.

Queenstown Lakes District Council is taking legal advice after the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) challenged the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2019.

The first court appearance for the 13 parties charged by WorkSafe in relation to the 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption has been moved to next year. 

A lawyer acting for tourism firms unhappy with the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme may launch a High Court judicial this week.

Hunting operators have welcomed a High Court ruling instructing the Department of Conservation to undertake further consultation on its 2020-2021 tahr culling plans.

An operator specialising in tours for international students has been fined a total of $12,000 for illegally guiding on public conservation land, including two national parks.

Law firm Anderson Lloyd on force majeure, insurance and employment obligations.