Harmans Lawyers

Harmans Lawyers New Zealand's most dynamic mid-sized law firm.

Christchurch Solicitors offering a full range of legal services including business, company and commercial law; banking and finance including debt recovery; conveyancing, subdivisions and development, and other property related law; dispute resolution; elderly services; employment; family and relationship law; franchising; hospitality; resource management; rural and agricultural law; and trusts, estate planning and administration and asset protection.

We’re delighted to welcome Rebecca Banks to the Harmans partnership. Rebecca joined us in August, bringing with her more...
06/10/2026

We’re delighted to welcome Rebecca Banks to the Harmans partnership.

Rebecca joined us in August, bringing with her more than 20 years of legal experience, including most recently as a partner at another Christchurch law firm.

She joins our wider Private Client team, where she will lead our busy Estates & Trusts division. Rebecca has a particular focus on estate planning and administration, asset protection, and complex trust matters, helping clients navigate some of the most important decisions around their families, assets and long-term plans.

We’re excited to have someone of Rebecca’s experience and expertise joining the Harmans team and look forward to the contribution she’ll make as we continue to grow our Private Client practice.

The Holidays Act is changing.📅 The Employment Leave Act 2026 has now been passed and will replace the Holidays Act 2003....
29/09/2026

The Holidays Act is changing.

📅 The Employment Leave Act 2026 has now been passed and will replace the Holidays Act 2003.

While most changes won't take effect until August 2028, Employers should start preparing now.

From how leave is accrued and paid, to cashing up annual leave and calculating public holiday entitlements, the new Act brings some significant changes.

🔍 We’ve broken down the key changes and what employers need to know in our latest article.

👉 Read the full article by Mary Crimp and Mikayla Hughes, via the link in the comments.

We recently joined The Court Theatre for their annual fundraiser dinner, City Lights & Winter Nights. 🎭 And what a night...
21/09/2026

We recently joined The Court Theatre for their annual fundraiser dinner, City Lights & Winter Nights.

🎭 And what a night it was, celebrating the performing arts, our city, and the people and organisations who keep theatre thriving in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

🕺 As a proud Tahā sponsor of The Court Theatre, we were delighted to see a full house at the dinner, which raised over $70,000 for our world-class theatre, helping to invest in the future of live performance for the next generation.

Can a landlord refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet?🐾 Since 1 December 2025, tenants have been able to make a writte...
16/09/2026

Can a landlord refuse a tenant’s request to keep a pet?

🐾 Since 1 December 2025, tenants have been able to make a written request to keep a pet in their rental property.

⚖️ Landlords must consider the request and can only refuse consent where they have reasonable grounds.

🏠 A recent Tenancy Tribunal decision has provided guidance on what makes a refusal reasonable, including the need to consider the specific pet, the property and the circumstances rather than relying on blanket bans or general concerns.

🔑 Landlords can also impose reasonable conditions, such as a pet bond or requirements around supervision, fencing or cleaning.

📚 For both landlords and tenants, understanding the new rules is important when it comes to pets in rental properties.

👇 Read the full article in the comments below.

We recently hosted a full team lunch to say thanks to everyone for their hard work over the past few months, while welco...
08/09/2026

We recently hosted a full team lunch to say thanks to everyone for their hard work over the past few months, while welcoming a few new faces to Harmans. On the menu was pizza, chips and fruit. But mainly pizza.

📣 In other news, Friday is now the most popular day not only for settlements, but also for heated inter-office competition.

🎯 The recently established tradition of Friday darts gives anyone in the firm the chance to throw their best three darts, record their score (and, importantly, their dart name) and have a crack at the winners' voucher wheel.

🥇 Last week Ju Ju on Dat Beat (Juliette, Law Clerk (Family Team)), took the title and won a voucher from JD Sports, taking the title from the previous winner, The Vixen (Vicki, Office Manager).

We were proud to join members of the local legal community at the Canterbury-Westland Branch of the New Zealand Law Soci...
03/09/2026

We were proud to join members of the local legal community at the Canterbury-Westland Branch of the New Zealand Law Society’s annual dinner last Friday.

Held at One New Zealand Stadium, and attended by Harmans partners and associates from a number of our teams, the evening was a great opportunity to catch up and celebrate with colleagues in the profession.

A big thanks to all those who made the evening such a success, including Justice Rob Osborne for sharing his insights as guest speaker on the night.

Colin Abernethy, Partner and Deputy Chair of the Family Law Section, recently visited the University of Otago to speak ...
23/08/2026

Colin Abernethy, Partner and Deputy Chair of the Family Law Section, recently visited the University of Otago to speak with family law students about the profession, pathways into family law and what life is really like as a family lawyer.

Colin was joined by Family Law Section Chair Richard Smith, with the visit also marking the launch of a new work experience scheme connecting students with family law practitioners during university holidays.

The initiative aims to give students a better understanding of practising family law, while helping address the shortage of family lawyers and legal aid providers in parts of New Zealand.

The pilot is currently running through the University of Otago, with the potential to expand in the future.

If you've helped your child buy a home, was it a gift or a loan?A recent New Zealand Court of Appeal decision has confir...
11/08/2026

If you've helped your child buy a home, was it a gift or a loan?

A recent New Zealand Court of Appeal decision has confirmed that, unless there is evidence to the contrary, money or property transferred from parents to their adult children will generally be presumed to be a gift.

While that may reflect what many families intend, it can also lead to unexpected outcomes if expectations change or the arrangement was never properly documented.

The key takeaway? If money is intended to be repaid, or ownership is meant to be shared, make sure it's recorded clearly from the outset.

Read the full article by Partner Melissa Borcoski (link in the comments) to learn what this decision means for parents, adult children, and anyone considering providing financial assistance to family members.

Congratulations to Max Dowd, who has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand - the s...
27/07/2026

Congratulations to Max Dowd, who has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand - the start of an exciting new chapter in his career.

Getting here was a journey that took four years of university study, Professional Legal Studies, and no shortage of hard work. We've had a front-row seat to that since Max joined us as a Summer Clerk in 2024/25, and it's fantastic to see it lead to this moment.

Today, Max is a valued member of our Commercial & Property team, working with clients on residential and commercial conveyancing, business sales and purchases, leasing, and a wide range of commercial matters.

Well done, Max, we're delighted to have you on the team and can't wait to see what you'll achieve in the coming years.

What's the one thing most first home buyers wish someone had told them before they started looking?Usually, it's this: i...
22/07/2026

What's the one thing most first home buyers wish someone had told them before they started looking?

Usually, it's this: it's rarely the house-hunting that’s the most challenging bit, it's the finance and legal steps behind it.

Recently, H**e Haughey from our Commercial & Property team hosted a First Home Buyers Evening at our Harmans offices, alongside Abbey McSherry from MYlend and Charlotte Heaslip from Bayleys Canterbury, walking attendees through exactly those steps, from finance and legal considerations to the practical realities of the buying process.

It was great to see so many thoughtful questions and new connections being made. Thanks to everyone who came along, and to H**e, Abbey and Charlotte for sharing their expertise.

Buying your first home is a big step - if you're thinking about taking it, get in touch. We'd love to help.

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Level 2, 79-81 Cashel Street
Christchurch
8011

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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