Checketts McKay Law

02/08/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who entered this year's Short Story competition. We have been blown away by the response and are incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their creativity, imagination and love of storytelling with us.

One of the highlights has been seeing entries arrive from right across Aotearoa New Zealand. From the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, it's been wonderful to see so many writers take part.

Now the judging begins! Our judges have the difficult task of reading through all of the entries before selecting this year's winners.

Thank you again to everyone who entered. We wish all of our entrants the very best of luck.

24/07/2026

Last weekend to enter!

Have you started your story yet? Or maybe it's sitting on your desk just waiting for the finishing touches...

With just one week to go until entries close on Friday 31 July, now is the perfect time to put pen to paper and submit your entry in the Checketts McKay Law Short Story Competition.

Make use of the last weekend before the closing date - we'd love to read your story.

22/07/2026

We're looking for a full-time Receptionist / Legal Assistant to join our friendly team in our Cromwell office.

This is a varied role where you'll be the welcoming face of the office while supporting our legal team with a range of administrative responsibilities, including:
- General file maintenance and document drafting
- Reception and client support
- Scheduling appointments
- Client AML compliance and deeds management

We're looking for someone who:
- Loves providing exceptional client service
- Is organised, proactive and has great attention to detail
- Is confident learning new systems and technology
- Enjoys multi-tasking and working as part of a team

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!

Send your application to [email protected]

Applications close: Friday 7 August 2026

Come and build your career with a team that's passionate about supporting our clients, our community and each other.

At Checketts McKay Law, we believe in more than just providing top-notch legal services; we believe in building a team that feels like family. With deep roots in the beautiful Central Otago region, our firm has a long-standing reputation for excellence and community engagement. We are proud to offer...

21/07/2026

Only 10 days left to get your entry in for the Checketts McKay Law Short Story Competition 2026.

Don't be shy! Enter now and you could be in with a chance to win $2,500.

See the link in the comments for more information.

16/07/2026

We're delighted to welcome India Ritchie to Checketts McKay Law as our newest Legal Assistant.

India originally came to New Zealand planning nothing more than a holiday. Like so many others, she quickly fell in love with everything this incredible country has to offer and decided to make it home. We're certainly glad she did!

Before joining us, India worked as a Paralegal in London, where she gained valuable experience in litigation. Now she's embarking on an exciting new chapter in property law, and we're thrilled to have her bring her enthusiasm and fresh perspective to our team.

Please join us in giving India a warm Checketts McKay welcome. We look forward to seeing her grow in her new role and introducing her to more of our wonderful clients and community.

15/07/2026

We were delighted to receive a special visit from some of the wonderful students at Cromwell Primary School.

The students stopped by to present us with a certificate and a very cheeky monkey mascot to thank us for supporting their "Buy a Monkey" fundraising campaign. Their project is helping bring a fantastic new obstacle course to life for the school. We're proud to have played a part in making it happen.

A big thank you to the students and staff at Cromwell Primary School for taking the time to visit us. We look forward to seeing your new obstacle course very soon.

12/07/2026

Now that all the school entries are in, we're excited to get reading and judging.

The words in this word cloud came directly from entries in our schools category and they tell a powerful story about what our young people have been inspired by.

Thank you to every student who entered. Your creativity and insight will make judging incredibly difficult.

09/07/2026

Today we're celebrating an incredible milestone as Director, Gillian Clarke, marks 25 years with Checketts McKay Law.

For a quarter of a century, Gillian has been helping clients navigate life's important moments with trusted advice, genuine care and a friendly smile. Her dedication to our clients, our team and the Central Otago community has made a lasting impact.

A proud advocate for the Maniototo and wider region, Gillian's passion for the people and places she serves shines through in everything she does.

Congratulations Gillian on 25 outstanding years. Thank you for your leadership, commitment and all you've contributed to CMLaw.

Here's to this remarkable milestone and the years ahead!

08/07/2026

We're pleased to welcome Ava Kite to the Checketts McKay Law team as a Legal Assistant.

Originally from Invercargill, Ava has recently made the move to Central Otago and brings with her valuable legal experience and a strong background in litigation. While she enjoyed working in litigation, Ava is excited to broaden her experience with our firm where she'll be supporting our lawyers and clients through a wide range of property and business transactions.

Ava is currently nearing the completion of her Legal Executive studies, and she is looking forward to continuing to build her knowledge and practical experience as she works towards becoming a qualified Legal Executive.

Please join us in welcoming Ava to the team. We are delighted to have her on board.

06/07/2026

The schools Short Story Competition category officially closed on Friday 3 July. We're absolutely delighted to have received almost 250 entries from students across Central Otago & Southern Lakes between years 5-13.

A huge thank you to all the students, teachers and schools who embraced the challenge. It's fantastic to see so much creativity, imagination and enthusiasm for storytelling in our community. The judges can't wait to start reading the entries!

There's still time to enter the Open Category.

If you've been thinking about putting pen to paper, now's your chance. Entries are still open, so don't miss the opportunity to share your story by 31 July.