Improving the law for dividing property when relationships end - Have your say
Links have been added for: This page, review page, public consultation page, Christchurch event page
When should the law treat two people as a couple? What property should they share if they break up and what property should only belong to one of them?
New Zealand has changed a lot in the last forty years, including how relationships and families are formed, how they function and what happens when relationships end.
The Law Commission is reviewing the 40-year-old Property (Relationships) Act 1976, which sets the rules for how to divide a couple’s property at the end of a relationship, and they want to hear your views.
The Law Commission has developed a paper, Dividing Relationship Property: Time for Change? - Te mātaatoha rawa tokorau – Kua eke te wā? This paper asks New Zealanders how the law could be better. You can view the Issues Paper and summary document, and access online consultation platform, from 16 October on this website.
A series of public meetings is being held around the country. Members of the Law Commission will be available to answer your questions and hear your feedback on the Issues Paper.
Some of the questions the Commission is asking are:
Does the law apply to the right relationships?
Is the right property being shared?
What should happen when trusts are used to hold property?
What should happen if one person is financially worse-off after their relationship ends?
Is tikanga Māori recognised?
How should the law meet the interests of children?
How can the law be inexpensive, simple and speedy while still being just?
Should the same law that applies when a couple separates also apply when one partner dies?
Poll: Should employees be able to work from home?
At the post-Cabinet press conference, the National Party asserted they want public sector staff to return to the office. This has opened a conversation about other sectors in New Zealand who have adopted working from home (WFH).
Where possible, do you think employees should be able to work from home? Vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.
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70.1% Yes
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26.8% No
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3.1% Other - I'll share below
Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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