News and views

Ensuring each staff member has an up-to-date employment contract – as required by law – just got a little easier with the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) launching an online employment agreement builder.

Like any owner who juggles the challenge of working “in” and “on” my business, I have to stay super-disciplined to ensure I don’t let “busyness” result in important checks, balances, planning and protections slipping off the radar.

If even a smidgen of the thought and planning that’s invested in getting into a business went into getting out of it, life would be a whole lot easier for many business people.

The Government is ramping up efforts to address soaring property prices, and, having focused on the “demand” side of the equation, is now moving to focus on “supply”.

They’re relatively easily, speedily and cost-effectively constructed, yet a frightening number of businesses leave themselves wide open to the often difficult, protracted and expensive fallout that comes with coasting along unprotected.

It’s taken untold tragedy, inquiries, a Royal Commission, a taskforce and a rather lengthy – and sometimes jagged – jaunt along the parliamentary process, but the implementation of one of the most significant pieces of workplace legislation in history is nigh.

The feedback’s continuing to roll in around our family law specialist, Gillian Stuart, and her series of interesting legal facts that’s been running in The Messenger. Earlier in the year, Off the Record ran Gillian’s first 10 facts. And now, by popular demand, we’re delighted to bring you Numbers 11 to 15.

Latest stats show building is booming in our neck of the woods. And you don’t need to take too long a Sunday drive to see new homes of all shapes and sizes popping up everywhere – a trend fuelled no doubt in part by the current bargain basement interest rates.