Tradie Law

Welcome to TradieLaw, a division of Ford Sumner dedicated to providing legal services to trade businesses. We ‘get’ tradies and the many demands on your time.

TradieLaw is powered by a team of great lawyers at Ford Sumner. We understand the unique aspects of setting up and running a trade business and all of the challenges that come with managing a team and delivering great work to customers. We take care of the legal stuff so you can get on with what you do best. So get in touch with us to find out how we can support you and your business. Imagine more time to manage your projects, supply issues and valuable time onsite with your team.

24/09/2026

Thinking about taking on an apprentice? Same rules apply as any other employee, plus a few extras. 🔨

Apprentices get the same legal protections as your other staff, but there's a Training Agreement, a Primary ITO, and a formal training plan involved too. Get it wrong and you could be stuck with an unjustified dismissal claim down the track (you can't let an apprentice go once they're qualified, for a start).

✅ Written employment agreement in place before day one
✅ Formal training plan lodged with your ITO
✅ Check if you qualify for Apprenticeship Support Programme funding ($500–$1,000/month for the first two years)

Our factsheet covers what you need to have sorted before you take someone on:
https://tradielaw.co.nz/files/tradielaw/factsheets/tl-factsheet-10---employing-an-apprentice.pdf

16/09/2026

Disputes Tribunal won't cut it when the debt's too big? Here's your next move. ⚖️

For claims over $30,000 (and up to $350,000), the District Court is where unpaid debts get sorted when negotiation and demand letters haven't worked. It's a more formal process than the Tribunal, but it comes with real teeth.

✅ File a Statement of Claim setting out the full story
✅ Ask for summary judgment if there's no real defence
✅ Recover your filing fees and a chunk of your legal costs if you win

Our factsheet walks through the process step by step, so you know what you're in for before you file:
https://tradielaw.co.nz/files/tradielaw/factsheets/tl-factsheet-24---district-court-(1).pdf

11/09/2026

Didn't manufacture the product, just installed it? You can still be liable if it fails. 🔧

Under the Building Act 2004 and the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, contractors can carry the can for defective materials, even ones you didn't make, for up to 10 years. That risk covers removal, replacement and any flow-on damage, not just the faulty product itself.

✅ Choose reputable suppliers and proven products
✅ Keep records of what was specified and by whom
✅ Check your insurance actually covers this

Read the full breakdown of where your liability starts and ends: https://tradielaw.co.nz/tradie-law/resources/are-contractors-liable-for-defective-building-materials-in-new-zealand.html

08/09/2026

Chasing a customer who won't pay and wondering if it's worth taking further? ⚖️

The Disputes Tribunal is a fast, low-cost way to sort out payment and contract disputes without the expense of going to court, but there are limits on what it can deal with and how much you can claim.

✅ No lawyers needed on the day
✅ Lower cost than the courts
✅ Claims capped at a set dollar limit

Our factsheet breaks down when the Disputes Tribunal makes sense for your business, and when it doesn't:https://tradielaw.co.nz/files/tradielaw/factsheets/tl-factsheet-23---disputes-tribunal.pdf

04/09/2026

Got proper Terms of Trade, or just a verbal agreement and good intentions? 🛠️

Terms of Trade are what protect you when a job goes bad, a customer disputes an invoice, or a payment goes missing. Without them in writing, you're relying on goodwill, and goodwill doesn't pay the bills.

✅ Set clear payment terms
✅ Protect yourself if a customer disputes the work
✅ Give yourself something to point to if it ends up in dispute

Grab our free Terms of Trade factsheet to see what yours should cover:https://tradielaw.co.nz/files/tradielaw/factsheets/tl-factsheet-3---terms-of-trade.pdf

28/08/2026

Unpaid invoices shouldn't be the cost of doing business.

Tradie Pay uses the payment claim regime under the Construction Contracts Act to recover what you're owed, fast, fixed-cost, and without the stress of chasing debtors yourself. Letters of demand start at just $350 + GST.

If a debtor doesn't play by the rules, they become liable for the debt and your costs. No further questions asked.

👉 Find out how Tradie Pay (and IPromise) can protect your cashflow, get in touch today: https://tradielaw.co.nz/tradie-law/tradie-pay/

25/08/2026

Chasing an unpaid invoice? Don't just keep sending texts and hoping.

A letter of demand is the simplest, most cost-effective first step to recovering what you're owed, it puts the debt, the deadline, and the consequences of non-payment in writing, before things escalate to court.

Cashflow problems don't fix themselves. A clear paper trail does the talking for you:https://tradielaw.co.nz/files/tradielaw/2026/debt-recovery---letters-of-demand-(updated-2026).pdf

👉 Get in touch about our Letters of Demand service and start recovering what you're owed.

20/08/2026

Signing contracts from the truck between jobs? Under NZ law, an e-signature can be just as binding as one in pen, as long as it's done properly.

But not everything can be signed electronically. Wills, powers of attorney, and LINZ land transfer documents still need the real thing

Know the difference before you hit "sign."

👉 Read our Electronic Signatures fact sheet to make sure your e-signed contracts will actually hold up https://tradielaw.co.nz/tradie-law/services/dealing-with-customers.html

24/07/2026

New Zealand's construction sector is facing its biggest shake-up in over 20 years.

The Building Amendment Bill proposes the most significant overhaul of the Building Act since 2004 and the headline change is a shift from joint and several liability to proportionate liability. Each party would only be liable for the share of loss attributable to their own conduct, aligning NZ with a model Australia has used for three decades.

Other key changes:

• Home warranties for eligible new residential builds (one-year defect + 10-year structural cover)
• Mandatory PI insurance for design professionals on qualifying $100k+ projects
• Faster consenting, a 10-day fast-track for eligible sustainable builds
• New penalties, up to $150,000 for warranty non-compliance

The select committee reports by 30 December 2026, with changes potentially in force from early 2027.

Get your contracts, insurance and risk cover sorted before it lands. Full breakdown on our site: https://tradielaw.co.nz/tradie-law/resources/2026-07-23--building-amendment-bill.html

21/07/2026

Thinking about sending someone home from work? Don’t rush this one.

Suspension isn’t a punishment. It’s a legal tool to manage risk while you sort things out.

You need:
- A good reason (not just frustration)
- A fair process
- The right contract or policy in place

Get it wrong, and it can turn into a personal grievance fast. Get it right, and you protect your crew and your business.

Read more here:https://tradielaw.co.nz/files/tradielaw/factsheets/tl-factsheet-14---suspending-an-employee.pdf

Address

Level 7, 45 Johnston Street
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday

8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+6449103200

Website

http://tradielaw.co.nz/

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