Law
Parental alienation: Call to boost Family Court therapy
The Family Court should have more powers to direct children and parents to therapy when they have been alienated by another parent, a lawyer and author of a paper on the subject says. Audio
Children used as pawns by feuding parents
Nelson lawyer Lee James is calling for law reform to prevent feuding parents using their children as pawns in the Family Court. She has more than 20 years experience in the Family Court, including… Audio
Property developer sentenced to 15 months for ignoring RMA
Auckland property developer Ee Ku-oh Lau, also known as Augustine Lau, has been sent to jail for repeatedly and brazenly ignoring the Resource Management act. Video, Audio
Verbal consent for sex
An Australian government minister is proposing a law to make people have to give and receive verbal consent before engaging in sexual activity.In the #metoo age this might make perfect sense but will… Audio
Getting a medical certificate
A woman who kept feeding her children's school medical certificates was taken to court by the school for their extreme absenteeism. Are medical certificates too easy to get? We talk to the chair of… Audio
Another gay wedding cake controversy
Australian couple Moe Barr and Sasha Patrick are getting married in New Zealand because of our same-sex-friendly laws. Unfortunately the good will didn't extend to a bakery that they wanted to make… Audio
Does diplomatic immunity need an overhaul?
An EU diplomat has managed to get away with not paying $20k she owed a Wellington landlord in rent. Her landlord says it proves landlords have no power. And maybe it proves diplomatic immunity has too… Audio
Russell McVeagh withdraws sponsorship of NZIFF Gala
Law firm Russell McVeagh has withdrawn its sponsorship of the New Zealand International Film Festival Gala.
Monumental stuff-up over Judge's memorial
A bit of a strange tale surrounds a memorial for deceased Supreme Court judge, Justice Sir Robert Chambers. Sir Robert died 5 years ago, the government at the time announced a garden would be built in… Audio
Becroft marks two years advocating for Kiwi kids
On July 1, Judge Andrew Becroft marked two years in his role as Children's Commissioner. Prior to that he was the Principal Youth Court Judge of New Zealand from 2001 to 2016; and a District Court… Audio
South Dunedin bar closure
You may have read about the forced closure of a very well-known South Dunedin bar, Heff's. Heff's Hotel, Heff's Sports Bar as it's now known. The Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority has… Audio
ACC under scrutiny over legality of disputes
A lawyer representing ACC claimants says the corporation has been acting illegally by contracting out its dispute resolution services to a private company. Audio
Does NZ get bang for its movie buck?
Are the millions of tax-payer dollars spent on enticing big overseas movie productions to New Zealand worth the cost? Audio
Police defend taser use after Auckland man's death
The police are defending their use of tasers to subdue an Auckland man who died in hospital three days later. Officers were called to a house in Freemans Bay on Sunday where a 76-year-old man was… Audio
ACC's external dispute review service not legal - lawyer
A lawyer representing ACC claimants says the corporation has been acting illegally by contracting out its dispute resolution services to a private company. Dunedin barrister Warren Forster says this… Audio
Russell McVeagh review eases fears over speaking out
The woman who led hundreds of students in a march to law firm Russell McVeagh's Wellington office earlier this year says a high level review has further eased fears over speaking out. Audio
Russell McVeagh report an opportunity to move forward - Bethany Paterson
The deans of the country's law schools plan to meet Russell McVeagh staff next month to discuss the response to the scathing external review into the firm's culture. The review, led by Dame Margaret… Audio
Law schools to decide on Russell McVeagh relationship
The deans of the country's law schools plan to meet Russell McVeagh staff next month to discuss the firm's response to the scathing external review of its culture. The review, led by Dame Margaret… Audio
Law Society welcomes Russell McVeagh review
Law firm Russell McVeagh had a culture of excessive drinking when sexual misconduct allegations arose in 2015 and 2016, an independent review has found. Dame Margaret Bazley, who led the review… Audio
Russell McVeagh's 'disgraceful incidents' back in spotlight
Groping, excessive drinking, sexual misconduct, bullying - a catalogue of "disgraceful incidents". That's from Dame Margaret Bazley and her scathing review of the law firm Russel McVeagh - published… Audio