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Family First to keep the home fires burning

In the first significant decision since the Supreme Court decision in Greenpeace the majority of the Court of Appeal has allowed the appeal in Family First New Zealand v Attorney-General against the decision to de-register it as a charity.  The High Court had previously considered that Family First did not qualify for registration as its … Continue reading

Well intentioned

Miller v Cregten touches on the vexed issue as to settlor’s wishes to ensure that only identified beneficiaries benefit and that: “if a beneficiary is married, in order to protect the beneficiary from thepossibility of a matrimonial property claim in the event of a breakdownof his or her marriage, you should take into consideration the … Continue reading

Judgemental and pejorative

Law v Law relates to an application by trustees for directions under s 66 of the Trustee Act regarding the proposed distribution of trust assets. The background of the case is essentially set out at [24] as follows: “Again, the Trustees appear to have approached the question of the payments to Elena with a primary … Continue reading

Blood ties

In the Estate of Tasman William John Berghan  raises important questions regarding the legal fiction of adoption and the status of an adopted biological child to seek administration of the deceased’s estate. As noted at [9] “The effect of s 16(2) of the Adoption Act 1955 is that on adoption, Ms Sabin ceased to be … Continue reading

Finally …

Greenpeace has been seeking registration as a charity since 24 June 2008. The original application to the (then) Charities Board, now Charities Services, was declined and subsequent appeals ultimately reached the Supreme Court. See Greenpeace appeal result – one all draw for further background and the following paragraphs from the 2020 High Court decision: “[3] The … Continue reading

Invalidity upheld

Webb v Webb relates to whether a tax debt owed by the former husband in New Zealand is enforceable in the Cook Islands, and what that means in the context of the division of matrimonial property in the Cook Islands; the validity of two trusts settled on somewhat unusual terms; and valuation considerations when a … Continue reading

Two heads are not better than one

The facts of McAtamney v McAtamney are simple.Frank McAtamney was settlor and appointor of the Waimarie Second Family Trust. Notwithstanding that Frank’s late wife had no power of appointment, Frank and his wife twice purported to appoint new trustees.As set out at [11] and [12]:[11] Frank has now received legal advice that those deeds of … Continue reading

Blessing of one

PR Law Queenstown No 1 Trustees Limited (In Liquidation) relates to an urgent application by PR Law Queenstown No 1 Trustees Limited (In Liquidation) (the Company) who is one of two corporate trustees for directions under s 66 of the Trustee Act 1956 for the sale of trust owned shares to meet liabilities incurred as … Continue reading

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