Our Teams
Litigation, Societies & Charities
Our team has extensive experience in Hawke’s Bay and elsewhere, and our expertise includes local government, intellectual property, trade practices and sale of liquor.
Family Law Team
With clients ranging from children in need of care and protection, couples partnering or separating and the elderly who may be suffering from failing physical or mental health, our family team of Martin (Team Leader) and Elizabeth are there to help.
Property, Commercial & Personal Services Team
Providing comprehensive advice to a broad range of clients throughout NZ, we enjoy working with our clients to achieve the best legal outcomes. Don’t like the small print? We love it!
Administration Team
Our friendly first point of contact, the BvonD admin team can direct your enquiry if you are unsure which of the other teams to contact directly.
BvonD People
Latest BvonD News
Holding (or not holding) General Meetings of Members in extraordinary circumstances
The current issues relating to the COVID-19 virus give rise to some difficult problems for many organisations that are required to hold regular meetings of members (including companies and not-for-profit organisations such as societies and charities).
NEW INCORPORATED SOCIETIES ACT – WHAT EXISTING SOCIETIES WILL HAVE TO DO AND BE AWARE OF
This Article is based on what was proposed in the 2015 Exposure Draft Incorporated Societies Bill, but also having regard to some modifications signalled in the Minister’s June 2019 Cabinet Paper. The article will need to be revised after the new statute has been enacted, hopefully later in 2020. In the meantime, existing societies and […]
Constitution-Builder for Society Constitutions
Background The Law Commission’s 2013 Report, A New Act for Incorporated Societies, noted at paragraph 7.58 that: During our consultation we were constantly told of the need for education and guidance for societies in drafting their constitutions and in running societies in general. An internet-based constitution builder tool would provide that guidance and would greatly […]
Essential Record-Keeping for Not-for-Profit Organisations
Introduction Most not-for-profit organisations (societies and charitable trusts, abbreviated to N-f-P’s in these notes) are governed and managed by well-intentioned, honest people, but many of those people lack some or all of the knowledge and skills about the decision-making and record-keeping required in such an organisation. The sections that follow provide a brief guide to […]
Codes of Conduct in Not-for-Profit Governance
Introduction Those involved in the governance of a not-for-profit entity (incorporated society or charity, whether or not incorporated under any statute) have duties and responsibilities: These may be specified in the constitution of the not-for-profit entity, They may be specified in any legislation under which the not-for-profit entity may be incorporated or which applies to […]
Business Numbers – What they Mean for Not-for-Profits
The New Zealand Business Number Act 2016 provides that incorporated societies registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908, charitable trusts incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957, friendly societies and credit unions registered under the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982, and industrial and provident societies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1908 are eligible to obtain a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).