University of Canterbury's John Hopkins and Toni Collins explain disaster law and shortcomings in NZ's legal system highlighted by the Canterbury earthquakes.
A professional association which represents all practising lawyers in New Zealand. Has a section on Earthquake assistance.
Haydon Wilson of Kensington Swan discusses the ongoing legal ramifactions of the Canterbury Earthquakes, in particular the Quake Outcasts case.
Toni Collins is a Canterbury University PhD researcher in law, who is investigating how commercial leases could be written to better deal with the aftermath of earthquakes, and how cases of disputes could progress through the courts.
Judge Neave and members of the district courts use the moot room at the Law School for real law business.
Judge Neave and members of the district courts use the moot room at the Law School for real law business.
Sadly the days are numbered after the 6.3 quake that hit Christchurch 22 February 2011! You can see the blue streel strengthening on the tower from the earthquake on 4 September 2010. Also if you look closely you can see the cracks that have determained its fate! Press L.
The 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes and their aftermath have been described by the Human Rights Commission as one of New Zealand's greatest contemporary human rights challenges. This article documents the shortcomings in the realisation of the right to housing in post-quake Canterbury for homeowners, tenants and the homeless. The article then considers what these shortcomings tell us about New Zealand's overall human rights framework, suggesting that the ongoing and seemingly intractable nature of these issues and the apparent inability to resolve them indicate an underlying fragility implicit in New Zealand's framework for dealing with the consequences of a large-scale natural disaster. The article concludes that there is a need for a comprehensive human rights-based approach to disaster preparedness, response and recovery in New Zealand.
A PDF copy of a frequently asked question page from the union.org.nz website, answering the question, "What does the law say about health and safety at work after an earthquake?".
Major Australian law firm Maurice Blackburn has agreed to underwrite a class action law suit against Southern Response seeking redress for Canterbury earthquake claimants. Christchurch lawyer Grant Cameron says "hidden costs" led to significant underpayments to about 3000 people. Maurice Blackburn is a law firm which specialises in class actions, its principal lawyer Martin Hyde joins Kathryn, along with Grant Cameron, to talk about why they think they have a strong case.
I want to talk a bit about a media project that I started work on over the summer, which is part of a larger project the Faculty of Law at Canterbury is carrying out, investigating the many legal issues that have arisen from the earthquakes.
A law change is being looked at to tackle the problem of property boundaries moving in the Canterbury earthquakes.
Media law developments have continued across many areas in the period to mid-2013. In defamation, the New Zealand courts have begun to consider the issue of third party liability for publication on the internet, with cases involving Google searches and comments on a Facebook page. A parliamentary inquiry into a case that restricted parliamentary privilege has recommended a Parliamentary Privilege Act containing a definition of ‘proceedings in Parliament’. A satirical website increased its popularity when it fought off threatened defamation proceedings. In breach of confidence, a government body, the Earthquake Commission, obtained an interim injunction prohibiting publication of information accidentally released that dealt with the repair of earthquake-damaged properties in Christchurch, and a blogger made the information available online in breach of the order.
The Law Society is criticising the Government for rushing its Canterbury earthquake recovery legislation through Parliament under urgency.
Forty law students in Christchurch are volunteering their time to help local residents take the Earthquake Commission to the High Court.
Workers in Christchurh already stressed by the earthquakes are pleading with MPs to stop proposed changes to employment law.
The Government is considering introducing a new law to cover any natural disaster of a similar size to the Canterbury earthquake.
A group of legal scholars says the Government has set a dangerous precedent with its law to assist recovery from the Christchurch earthquake.
Map of the tents in the Law car park.
Map of the Law car park with numbered tents.
The Law Society is warning disruption to services following last month's earthquake in Christchurch is likely to lead to a massive bottleneck of court cases.
Map of the Law car park with tents and infrastructure.
Public and electoral law professor at Otago University, Andrew Geddis.
The Earthquake Recovery Minister says he's instructed government agencies to prosecute any fraudulent activity during the Christchurch rebuild, to the full extent of the law.
Christchurch's community law centre is expecting many cases to be lodged as people struggle to cope with the effects of the Canterbury earthquake.
The Law Society has added its voice to condemnation the government is giving itself far too much power by passing the emergency Canterbury earthquake legislation.
Laws 205 classes being taught in Otakaro at the College of Education.
Laws 205 classes being taught in Otakaro at the College of Education.
A PDF copy of a frequently asked question page from the union.org.nz website, answering the question, "Can my employment agreement be varied?".
A PDF copy of a news item from the union.org.nz website, titled, "Canterbury Earthquake".