LEGAL LOWDOWN
NEWSLETTER #8 February 2014
NEW WARRANT OF FITNESS LAWS
WOF Laws
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We outline some of the new changes to Warrant of Fitness Laws which will affect the frequency of inspections for some vehicles. We also look at the rise in minimum wage
Services We are you a services outline services edition.
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excited to bring number of new in 2014. We some of those in this months’
Info
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We provide legal information on Tenancy Law and details on how to access downloadable online resources.
He Maemae Aroha: A LOVING TRIBUTE TO DR. NIN TOMAS
A loving tribute to Dr Nin Tomas
The legal profession suffered a great loss with the recent passing of Dr Nin Tomas. She was a truly inspirational woman who was an example of dedication, resilience and determination to aspiring legal professionals throughout the Country. Dr Tomas was the first Māori to graduate with a doctorate in law. Dr Tomas’ PhD Thesis, Key Concepts of Tikanga Māori (Māori Custom Law) in Tai Tokerau past and present, awarded in 2006, contained ground breaking research which provides the basis for an indigenous system of modern law in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Dr Nin Tomas. Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi.
In recent times, Dr Tomas has written extensively about Ngā Tikanga Mate, examining the principles and protocols that Māori use to govern tangihanga,
and legal rules, principles and processes that govern where a person is buried. She was a stalwart of the Paerangi Māori Boarding School, Kuni Wikitoria (Queen Victoria School) in Auckland. A number of CLSST lawyers enjoyed the privilege of being taught under Dr Tomas during her career as a member of the academic staff at the University of Auckland and her short time at the University of Waikato. We send our deepest condolences to Dr Tomas’ family. She will be sadly missed. “E moe, e ko, I roto I te aio a te kaihanga – Rest peacefully in the calm embrace of God the creator”
CLSST NEWS: Recent changes that affect our community MINIMUM WAGE RISE The Government has announced that it will raise the adult minimum wage from $13.75 to $14.25 an hour. The starting-out and training minimum wages will also rise from $11.00 per hour to $11.40 per hour, which is 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage. Changes to the current minimum wages will take effect from 1 April 2014.
NEW WARRANT OF FITNESS LAWS There are new law changes regarding the frequency of Warrant of Fitness (“WOF�) inspections. A number of the changes came into effect on 1 January 2014. The other changes will come into effect on 1 July 2014. Currently, WOF inspections are annual for vehicles up to six years-old and six-monthly thereafter. With the new changes (as of 1 January 2014), the following new laws apply: Vehicles up to six years old will have an initial WOF inspection and no further inspection until such vehicles are three years-old. Light vehicles* three years and older, that were first registered on or after 1 January 2000 will only require an annual inspection. Vehicles first registered before 1 January 2000 will require six-monthly inspections. *According to the New Zealand Transport Agency, a light weight vehicle includes cars, motorcycles, mopeds, vans, people-movers, trailers (horse floats and caravans) and small buses. New Zealand Transport Agency says that extra education and communication measures will be developed to encourage New Zealanders to keep their vehicle roadworthy. They also say that Police enforcement activities will increase once the changes are fully in effect. Ministry of Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency monitoring to assess any effects on safety the changes may have (additional measures will be considered, if needed). Changes on 1 July 2014 Also from 1 July 2014 new vehicles will receive an initial inspection, another one when they're three years old, then annual inspections for their lifetime.
For more information on the changes, please see the Ministry of Transport website: http://www.transport.govt.nz/ourwork/land/vehiclelicensingreformconsultation/vehiclelicensingreformquestionsandanswers/#cof
OUTREACH CLINICS: ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY As part of our commitment to our community, we hold several outreach clinics throughout our service area to maintain face-to-face engagement with our clients. Otara CLSST Office 120 Bairds Road Otara
Otahuhu We currently do not have an Outreach clinic in Otahuhu
Appointments available: Monday – Friday Pukekohe Heartland Services 2 King Street Pukekohe
Manurewa Manurewa Marae 81 Finlayson Ave Manurewa
Appointments available: Fortnightly on Tuesday
Appointments available: Wednesday
CLSST SERVICES
Manukau Salvation Army 16B Bakerfield Place Manukau
Papakura Papakura Citizens Advice Bureau 4a Opaheke Road Papakura
Appointments available: Monday-Friday
Appointments available: Thursday
Flat Bush Hilltop Community Centre 30 Hilltop Road Flat Bush
Chapel Downs Chapel Downs Primary School 170 Dawson Rd, Flat Bush Appointments available: Fortnightly on Wednesday
Appointments available: Fortnightly on Friday
COMMUNITY EVENTS & SEMINARS
LEGAL LUNCHBOX SERIES
LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINARS 2014
Our Legal Lunchbox Series have been a huge success. So successful in fact that our Papakura and Otahuhu Series 2 Sessions on Tenancy are now fully booked out. We have had increased interest in these sessions and will be looking at re-offering the same series again in a few weeks’ time to cater for the really great expressions of interest.
We have a number of community legal education seminars coming up in the next few months. The topics are as follows:
For more details on our next Legal Lunchbox Series, check out page 4 below.
26 March 2014:
Maori Access to Justice Manurewa Marae 81 Finlayson Ave, Manurewa 11.00am – 3.00pm
1 April 2014:
Disputes Tribunal Allen Brewster Leisure Centre Tavern Lane, Papatoetoe
To attend any of these sessions please see the community legal education page on our website: http://www.clsstlaw.com/communityseminars-2014.html or contact our office on (09) 274 4966 or email education@clsstlaw.com
LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINARS 2014
Full day training session- 9AM- 4PM For school counsellors, teachers, nurses and community volunteers Learn about education law, including the rules for stand-down, suspension, exclusion and expulsion Learn advocacy skills in preparing, supporting and speaking on behalf of young people who are facing being excluded or expelled Contact YouthLaw for more details (contact details above)
Legal Information Legal Fact #1 – Tenancy Law A Flat-mate is not recognised under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, which only provides for the rights and responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants. Flat-mate rights and responsibilities are not clear cut as these depend mainly on the arrangement between the tenant and landlord. It is recommended that a flat-share agreement be signed by the flat-mate and the tenant(s) to formalise living arrangements. A copy of a flat sharing agreement can be downloaded from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Website: http://www.dbh.govt.nz/flatting-101-tenant-or-flatmate
COMMUNITY NOTICES If you would like to promote a community event, such as an AGM, youth and elderly event, training days and seminars etc, please send an email of 150 words or less to newsletter@clsstlaw.com briefly outlining your event, function or service that we can include in our “Community Notices” section in next month’s edition of Legal Lowdown. Please note, we reserve the right not to promote any event that does not align with our community services.
FREE LEGAL SERVICES We provide FREE Legal Services to the South Auckland, Franklin and Otahuhu areas (except Mangere). Our services range from Legal Advice, Assistance and Information to Legal Education and Representation. For more details please contact:
FIND US ONLINE:
Website: www.clsstlaw.com
https://www.facebook. com/otaralaw
Our office on (09) 274 4966 or See our website: www.clsstlaw.com
https://twitter.com/Com mLegalSouth