The Expert’s Edge: Current Environment and Resource Management Law insights from our leading editors
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment… The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Environment and Resource Management Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled legal intelligence, this latest installment of our Expert’s Edge series we sit down with Stephen Blakeley BA LLB, senior legal editor, to find out how environmental law in New Zealand affects different aspects of our lives. What does your role as a legal editor at Thomson Reuters entail? I’m a Senior Editor, Writer and Editorial Coordinator with the Commentary team at Thomson Reuters New Zealand, where I have worked for almost 20 years. My role includes editorial responsibility for a number of publications, including Resource Management, Salmon Environmental Law, Building Law in New Zealand, Green and Hunt on Arbitration Law and Practice and Environmental Handbook. I am the in-house author for Salmon Environmental Law, and I also write the case summaries for our weekly environmental bulletin YourEnvironment (also available daily on Alert 24). My typical weekly work involves a mix of writing and editing manuscripts, coordinating with contributing authors and assisting with team administration. I work with our Production and Technology teams to ensure our content is available as quickly as possible on Westlaw New Zealand, Proview and in looseleaf. What is it about environmental law that interests you? My main area of practice is environmental law. It is fascinating as it is a fast-changing, dynamic area of law, particularly at the moment with the Government’s upcoming change in the resource management system. It is also interesting as the environment, and our interaction with it, has a real and tangible impact on all our lives. What are some of the key developments currently shaping environmental law? The Government is in the process of replacing the Resource Management Act 1991 with new legislation, expected to be passed into law next year. We anticipate considerable extra work as we revise our publications to provide analysis and guidance on the new system. How does Westlaw consistently provide the most current, comprehensive, and accurate legal information in environmental law? Westlaw New Zealand provides comprehensive coverage of environmental law, with a vast case database along with comprehensive commentary, workflows, precedents and current awareness updates. Our legislation team quickly adds new legislation to Westlaw New Zealand and consolidates amendments into existing Acts. Our author team of experienced practitioners regularly reviews case law and legislative developments, updating and expanding commentary to provide relevant analysis. Anything else you’d like to share? A useful tip for our Westlaw New Zealand customers is to set up Alert 24 Publication Alerts. For example, an Alert 24 YourEnvironment alert will give you the latest environmental legislation, case law, news and Thomson Reuters product developments in your inbox every morning. Expert author teams Resource Management Matt Conway BCA, LLB Partner, Simpson Grierson Luke Hinchey LLB, MPlanPrac (Hons) Partner, Chapman Tripp Briar Gordon MA, LLB (Hons), PhD Senior Parliamentary Counsel, Parliamentary Counsel Office Duncan Laing BA, LLM Duncan Laing Advisory Mike Wakefield LLB, BSc (Geography) Partner, Simpson Grierson James Winchester BA, LLB Barrister Helen Atkins LLB Commissioner/Barrister Salmon Environmental Law Alan Dormer LLB (Hons), MPP, Barrister Brian Putt BA, DipTP, Dip AF, Planning Consultant Karenza de Silva LLB (Otago), LLM (Envir) (Hons) (Auckland), Environmental Lawyer Stuart Ryan LLB, MSc (Hons), Barrister David Mead BTP, MNZPI, Urban Planner Thank you to Stephen Blakeley, senior legal editor and his team of expert authors in environment and resource management. As a legal professional, if you are in need of the most up-to-date and trusted environment and resource management legal content in New Zealand, look no further than the Environment & Resources Practice Area on Westlaw New Zealand. Other articles in The Expert’s Edge series: Current Civil Litigation insights, Current Employment insights, Current Aviation and Space insights, Current Criminal insights and Local Government insights. The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Environment and Resource Management Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
The Expert’s Edge: Current Local Government Law insights from our leading editors
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment… The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Local Government Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled legal intelligence, this latest installment of our Expert’s Edge series, we sit down with Rebecca Atkins BA (Hons) LLB, senior portfolio editor, to understand in more detail what is involved in maintaining Thomson Reuter’s suite of local government law offerings. What does your role as legal editor at Thomson Reuters entail? I oversee and manage the commentary and legislation content for different publications, including Local Government Law in New Zealand (hardcopy and on Westlaw NZ). Staying up to date and informed about parliamentary processes and government announcements is crucial for understanding the evolving landscape of NZ local government law. My day starts with scanning the New Zealand Parliament website and other Government department websites for upcoming legislative changes, paying close attention to Bills nearing assent and any that are fast-moving. I then collaborate with the relevant authors, discussing the Bills’ progress and implications and planning next steps in terms of updating commentary. I spend a lot of hours coordinating incoming manuscripts from authors and editing them for clarity, accuracy and usability on Westlaw NZ. Generally, this means verifying every case citation and legislation reference, checking judgment quotations and pinpointing paragraph locations, and ensuring the style and structure of cross-references to commentary, cases and legislation will support robust linking to primary materials on Westlaw NZ. After editorial review, the manuscript is converted into a mark-up language that uses tags to describe the style and format of the data. I complete a quality check to confirm new and amended content is present and every Westlaw NZ link-generating tag has been populated correctly. Once approved, the update is published across hardcopy, Westlaw NZ and ProView (ebook), and this is followed by another round of quality checks in each modality. All of this is driven by strict update cycles. I work closely with the authors to commission manuscripts according to deadlines, and I am constantly reassessing priorities as legislative and case law developments evolve. Can you tell us what it is about local government law that interests you? Local government law is a huge and fascinating area that touches our daily lives more than most people realise. It’s also constantly changing as governments shift and laws get updated. Take the Local Government Act 2002. Over the years, it’s swung between a broad ‘four well-beings’ purpose (social, economic, environmental, cultural) and a tighter focus on ‘core services’, like water, roads and waste, depending on who’s in power. Those changes really matter – they influence what councils can do, what they prioritise and how they spend money. Councils tend to have broad general competence, but they’re still tied to what statutes allow, what’s been delegated to them, and the basics of administrative law. That push-and-pull leads to some interesting cases about things like setting rates, making bylaws and charging development contributions. Central government also plays a big role, often nudging local decisions through national policy statements, directives and bespoke legislation – for example, on housing supply or water reform. That raises ongoing questions about democratic accountability and who pays for what. This dynamic is evident in the Three Waters reforms. These reforms highlight the tension between central government’s drive for nationally consistent solutions to infrastructure challenges and the traditional autonomy local councils have had in delivering services. Another area I find interesting is the recognition of Māori rights in local government. Increasingly, local authorities are weaving in Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through Māori wards, mana whenua seats on committees, and co-governance over natural resources. The legal and political discussions around representation, consultation and tikanga integration are always active and evolving. What are some of the key developments currently shaping local government law? Looking ahead, the author team is closely tracking, and working on new commentary for, several significant shifts in local government law, including the: Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025 and Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025, setting up a new substantive framework for water services delivery; Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Act 2025, accelerating the land acquisition process under the Public Works Act 1981 for critical infrastructure projects (this precedes a wider PWA review expected in 2026); Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill, intended to help address cost of living concerns by reducing pressure on council rates, refocusing the purpose of local government, better measuring and publicising council performance, prioritising core services in council spending, strengthening council accountability and transparency, and providing regulatory relief to councils. How does Westlaw consistently provide the most current, comprehensive and accurate legal information in local government law? The Local Government Law in New Zealand team of expert authors ensures that the carefully curated local government content is always kept up-to-date with recent case law. I keep the authors closely informed about the legislative pipeline – flagging which parts of the publication will be affected, what new or revised analysis will be needed, and when. I schedule and prioritise updates to publish on, or as close as possible to, commencement dates. When the author manuscript arrives, I carefully review it for currency, accuracy and completeness, and confirm that every cited judgment is accessible on Westlaw NZ. The result is a living, authoritative resource that practitioners can depend on for both precision and speed. Expert author team Dr Grant Hewison Barrister, Auckland Judge David Kirkpatrick Chief Environment Court Judge, Auckland Sarah Mitchell, Partner Simpson Grierson Auckland Linda O’Reilly Special Counsel, Tompkins Wake Auckland Kenneth Palmer Retired Associate Professor Faculty of Law, Auckland University Graeme Palmer Special Counsel, Simpson Grierson Auckland Mike Wakefield Partner, Simpson Grierson Wellington Lisa Wansbrough Partner, Brookfields Lawyers Auckland Thank you to Rebecca Atkins, senior portfolio editor and her team of expert authors in local government. As a legal professional, if you are in need of the most up-to-date and trusted local government legal content in New Zealand, look no further than the Local Government Practice Area on Westlaw New Zealand. Other articles in The Expert’s Edge series: Current Civil Litigation insights, Current Employment insights, Current Aviation and Space insights and Current Criminal insights. The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Local Government Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
The urgent legal challenge for military space law
A new arms race is unfolding in space, warns a leading legal authority. As satellites evolve from peaceful tools into potential weapons – and targets – of war, and the… The post The urgent legal challenge for military space law appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
A new arms race is unfolding in space, warns a leading legal authority. As satellites evolve from peaceful tools into potential weapons – and targets – of war, and the prospect of human habitation on the moon looms, nations are scrambling to understand how international law applies when conflict reaches the cosmos. With Russia developing anti-satellite capabilities and recently accused by the United States of planning to deploy a nuclear weapon in space, China testing space weapons and the US establishing its Space Force, the militarisation of space has become an immediate reality rather than science fiction. Professor Dale Stephens, expert author of The Laws of Australia and Chair of the Board of Governance of the groundbreaking Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Activities and Operations, highlights that we’re entering uncharted legal territory. “Space itself is a venue for military operations … a theatre of operations,” he states. The shocking legal void Perhaps most alarming is the revelation that after more than six decades of space exploration, there’s still no international agreement on where outer space even begins. Professor Stephens notes, “There has been no agreement in international law as to that point of differentiation [between airspace and outer space].” This ambiguity creates a dangerous grey zone where military operations could unfold without clear legal boundaries. What we do know, according to Professor Stephens, is that “outer space is certainly where a satellite can remain in full orbit”. But this functional definition barely scratches the surface of the complex legal challenges emerging as nations prepare for potential space warfare. From peacekeepers to targets The transformation of satellites from instruments of peace to military targets represents a stunning reversal. “From the very beginning, militaries have used space for military purposes,” Professor Stephens explains, but adds a crucial distinction: “Military purpose for satellites have been used for ensuring peaceful coexistence.” During the Cold War, both superpowers relied on satellites to verify arms control agreements, demonstrating how military space assets paradoxically served peace. Now, that paradigm has shattered. Professor Stephens presents a stark scenario that military planners worldwide are confronting: “If I’m going to be in a war with another country … and they rely on their satellites for accurate targeting of their missiles against us, we are going to want to take out those satellites and they are lawful military objectives under the law of armed conflict.” The debris nightmare Traditional warfare tactics create an unprecedented problem in space. Professor Stephens warns of the catastrophic consequences of kinetic attacks on satellites: “Unlike aircraft that fall to the ground or a ship that sinks to the bottom of the sea, the debris from physically destroying a satellite spins around the earth. Thousands of pieces of debris at 28,000 kilometres per hour.” This reality has forced military strategists to develop alternative approaches. Australia’s inaugural Space Commander, Vice-Marshal Cath Roberts AO has called for “soft kill weapons”, which Professor Stephens explains are designed to “jam it … spin it … use cyber to disable it”. As he notes, “We would try to affect its functionality rather than blowing it up, and it turns out that it can be easily done.” Sovereignty crisis The foundation of space law is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST), which prohibits military bases and weapons of mass destruction on celestial bodies. Article 2 of the OST creates what Professor Stephens describes as a dangerous paradox: “No state can claim sovereignty or national appropriation by claims of sovereignty or otherwise in space.” While preventing colonial-style territorial claims, this creates a lawless frontier where, as he puts it, everyone is “free to do whatever they like and you are free to do whatever you like without having to be concerned about territorial sovereignty”. This freedom has already led to international incidents. Professor Stephens recounts how France became “extremely upset when a Russian satellite came right up close to one of its communication satellites,” calling it international espionage – though no such legal concept exists for space operations. Looming future conflicts Looking ahead, Professor Stephens predicts even more complex scenarios within the next decade. ” I suspect we will have humanity on the moon in a semi-permanent state” within 10 to 20 years, “and that raises a whole new array of issues regarding States and conflict, and fighting it out on the moon – and which law has precedence in what circumstance: space law and human rights law?” It also raises unprecedented questions about military bases, security forces, and the application of Article 4’s prohibition on military installations on celestial bodies. Security and sovereignty: who protects whom? If mining companies decide to set up on the moon – and plans by a Seattle startup are already underway, “you’ll need security up there, probably a police force, then you’ll want military protection” Professor Stephens warns. If Australia sends soldiers to the moon to protect its companies, what legal framework applies? Can another country challenge their presence? What happens when disputes over resources escalate? Professor Stephens explains, “Under Article 4 of the OST, you cannot have a military base on the moon.” Yet, as lunar mining and commercial activities expand, nations will want to protect their interests. “If I just have soldiers up on the moon, wherever they’re living, is that a military base?” Stephens asks, highlighting the ambiguity. The prospect of AI-powered weapons in space adds another layer of urgency. Professor Stephens envisions “autonomous AI-powered systems up in space that could be weaponised”, potentially controlled from earth or from military space stations. The Outer Space Treaty: freedom and fragility The Outer Space Treaty prohibits sovereignty and appropriation, but Professor Stephens notes that nations still have jurisdiction over their objects in space, such as habitats or mining facilities. Article 12 of the OST allows for reciprocal visits to lunar facilities, but in practice, nations may refuse access, creating de facto zones of control. The Treaty was designed to prevent colonisation and dominance, but as more nations and private actors gain access to space, crowding and competition are inevitable. The “freedom” it gives, creates a vacuum where clashes are more likely – and where the law is struggling to keep up. Woomera Manual’s race against time The urgency of establishing clear legal frameworks has driven the creation of the Woomera Manual, that draws upon the knowledge of over 50 legal and space operations experts from around the world. Its mission is to “objectively articulate and clarify existing international law applicable to military space operations”, focusing strictly on the law. Despite the absence of space-specific armed conflict treaties, Professor Stephens emphasises that fundamental principles still apply: “Customary international law has basic principles of distinction, proportionality, precautions … all of these basic principles we say apply up into space.” A critical moment for humanity As nations develop counter-space capabilities and satellites become increasingly vulnerable to attack, the international community faces a critical choice. Professor Stephens warns that the treaty’s drafters in 1967 “didn’t imagine that so many nations would have the capacity to go into space and that with all of that congestion, you would have potential zones of conflict”. The development of non-destructive counter-space capabilities represents a glimmer of hope. As Professor Stephens notes about Australia’s approach, “we want to have weapons systems that take out the functionality of enemy satellites but without creating debris”. The stakes couldn’t be higher. As Professor Stephens concludes, “It’s reassuring that we’ve got this law that we can rely upon because in the absence of law, I guess you could do whatever you like and I’m not sure we want that to happen.” With multiple nations racing to militarise space, the window for establishing clear legal frameworks is rapidly closing. —————————————————————————————————————- Published by Thomson Reuters, The Laws of Australia encyclopaedia (TLA) is a complete library of legal principles covering over 330 topics and every Australian jurisdiction. The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG is Editor in Chief of TLA, overseeing the team of more than 400 specialist authors and expert Title Editors. Professor Dale Stephens CSM FAAL, Professor and Director, Adelaide Research Unit on Military Law and Ethics, University of Adelaide Law School is TLA’s expert author in military law. Dale Stephens is a Professor at The University of Adelaide Law School and also a Captain in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve. He is the recipient of the Conspicuous Service Medal and the (US) Bronze Star, the (US) Meritorious Service Medal as well as ADF and UN commendations for his service. The post The urgent legal challenge for military space law appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
The Expert’s Edge: Current Criminal Law insights from our leading editors
As the legal landscape evolves at unprecedented speed, staying ahead has never been more vital for lawyers and their clients. In our latest installment of the Expert’s Edge, we speak… The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Criminal Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
As the legal landscape evolves at unprecedented speed, staying ahead has never been more vital for lawyers and their clients. In our latest installment of the Expert’s Edge, we speak with senior portfolio editor Rebecca Atkins BA (Hons) LLB about what it takes to keep Westlaw’s content current with developments in New Zealand criminal law. Could you give us an overview of what your role as legal editor at Thomson Reuters entails? I oversee and manage the commentary and legislation content for Adams on Criminal Law. The majority of my role involves procuring and editing manuscript from a large and diverse team of authors across New Zealand. My day usually starts with horizon-scanning for legislative developments occurring in the criminal law space, paying close attention to Bills nearing assent and any fast-moving/under urgency Bills and discussing their progress and implications with the relevant authors. The rest of my day is mostly spent coordinating incoming manuscripts (sometimes thousands of tracked Word pages at a time) and editing for clarity, accuracy and usability on Westlaw. This involves verifying every single case citation and legislation reference, checking quotations and pinpoint paragraph locations, and ensuring the style and structure of cross-references to other commentary, cases and legislation will support robust linking to primary materials on Westlaw. After editorial review, the manuscript is converted into XML (a complex mark-up language) and I complete a quality check to confirm every tag, link and piece of new or amended content is correct. Once approved, the update publishes across hardcopy, Westlaw and ProView — followed by another round of checks in each medium. All of this is driven by strict update cycles. I work closely with the authors to align manuscript submission to deadlines and am constantly reassessing priorities as legislative and case law developments evolve. At any given time, I’m shepherding three or four Adams updates through different stages of this process. What interests you in Criminal law? Criminal law has been a life-long interest for me. My late father worked as a criminal defence lawyer, then a Law Commissioner, and later a District Court Judge. I grew up around thoughtful discussions about the criminal justice system — first listening in at home, and later as an active participant while studying law and criminology at Victoria University. That early exposure in my family life fostered a lasting curiosity about how criminal law impacts people’s lives and our broader social fabric. My admission to the bar in 1999 while working for Brookers, then later roles at Sweet and Maxwell in London and Thomson Reuters NZ sharpened my curiosity and deepened my commitment to the field of law and legal publishing. Stepping into the editor role for Adams in 2023 felt both natural and a deeply meaningful progression of my career at Thomson Reuters. What are some key developments currently shaping criminal law? Recent updates have focused on the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Act 2024, the Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Act 2025, and the Arms (Shooting Clubs, Shooting Ranges, and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025. Looking ahead, the Adams team are closely following several significant shifts expected over the next six months, including: a comprehensive rewrite of the Arms Act 1983; the Budapest Convention and Related Matters Legislation Amendment Act 2025 and its implications for the Search and Surveillance Act 2012; the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill, which proposes targeted amendments to the Crimes Act. Each of these developments has wide-ranging impacts on practice, procedure and enforcement, and we’re preparing commentary to guide practitioners through the changes as they land. How does Westlaw consistently offer the most current, comprehensive and accurate legal information in criminal law? Timeliness and rigor are the core of our approach. I keep our authors closely informed about the legislative pipeline, flagging which parts of Adams will be affected, what new or revised analysis will be needed, and when. I schedule and prioritise updates to publish on, or as close as possible to, commencement dates. Our authors – subject-matter leaders in their fields – continuously monitor new case law. When their analysis arrives, I review it for currency, accuracy and completeness, and ensure every New Zealand decision referenced is available to view on Westlaw. The result is a living, constantly updated, authoritative resource that practitioners can rely on for both precision and speed. Consulting Editor for Adams on Criminal Law Justice Mathew Downs, High Court of New Zealand, Auckland Authors for Adams on Criminal Law Henry Benson-Pope, Lecturer, Law Faculty University of Otago Warren Brookbanks, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology Jeremy Finn, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Canterbury Zannah Johnston, Crown Counsel, Auckland Andrea King, Chief Advisor, Courts and Justice Services Policy, Ministry of Justice, Wellington Nessa Lynch, Professor of Law, University College Cork, Ireland and Research Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington Elisabeth McDonald, Professor, School of Law University of Canterbury Melissa Perkin, Barrister, Auckland Paul Rishworth QC, Barrister, Auckland Anthony Rogers, Barrister, Auckland Neville Trendle, Barrister and Former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Wellington Debra Wilson, Professor in Law, University of Canterbury Warren Young, Policy and Law Reform Consultant and Former New Zealand Law Commissioner, Wellington Thank you to Rebecca Atkins, senior portfolio editor and her team of expert authors in criminal. As a legal professional, if you are in need of the most up-to-date and trusted criminal legal content in New Zealand, look no further than the Criminal Practice Area on Westlaw New Zealand. Other articles in The Expert’s Edge series: Current Civil Litigation insights, Current Employment insights and Current Aviation and Space insights The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Criminal Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
The Expert’s Edge: New Zealand’s Aviation and Space Law insights from our leading editors
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment… The post The Expert’s Edge: New Zealand’s Aviation and Space Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled legal intelligence, this latest installment of our Expert’s Edge series we sit down with Roger Thornton BA LLB to find out how NZ Aviation and Space law is expanding and evolving. Could you give us an overview of you, your role as a legal editor at Thomson Reuters? My first job at Thomson Reuters (then Brookers) was writing up cases for a case law digest. From there I progressed to editing looseleaf publications. We’ve come long way since then, producing online and ebook products (Westlaw New Zealand and ProView) and now integrating advances in AI into Westlaw to enhance our offerings. At the core of those offerings is the high-quality content written by our author teams. For Aviation and Space Law my role as a portfolio editor entails keeping up with developments whether it be cases or statutory or regulatory change and liaising with the authors so that we can keep the commentary in the publication as up to date as possible. It’s pretty satisfying to be able to incorporate improved and up to date content for our customers. We recently did this with the Civil Aviation Act 2023 by publishing significant amounts of commentary and legislation online in time for the in-force date of 5 April 2025. What interests you in Aviation and Space Law? As the editor of Aviation and Space Law I’ve found it interesting to see and incorporate (with the critical input of the authors) the changes effected in the civil aviation regime by the Civil Aviation Act 2023. Also, in early 2022, we introduced a space law chapter based on the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017 and associated regulations. This area of law is becoming increasingly relevant due to the activities of the likes of Rocket Lab, the advent of the New Zealand Space Agency in 2016 and the appointment of a Space Minister. What are some of the key developments currently shaping Aviation and Space Law? In the Aviation and Space Law sphere the Civil Aviation Act 2023 came into force on 5 April 2025. While in the text one of our authors has accurately described the Act as “evolutionary” rather than “revolutionary” there are nonetheless some new features to keep an eye on, for example, a “just culture” approach to accident and incident reporting, drug and alcohol management, independent review of regulatory decisions and the new concept of “transport instruments”. In the space law sphere, we’ve recently seen a 2025 amendment Act passed under urgency dealing with “ground-based space infrastructure” and aimed at protecting our national security. We’re very well placed with our author team to watch the developments and provide commentary. How does Westlaw consistently provide the most current, comprehensive, and accurate legal information in Aviation and Space Law? We are always keen to improve our publications and so we welcome any feedback or suggestions on Aviation and Space Law our customers may have. Expert author team Duncan Ferrier, Barrister, Capital Chambers John Parnell, Deputy Chief Legal Counsel, Civil Aviation Authority Kim Murray, Barrister and Consultant Thank you to Roger Thornton, senior editor and his team of expert authors in aviation and space. As a legal professional, if you are in need of the most up-to-date and trusted aviation and space legal content in New Zealand, look no further than the Transport Practice Area on Westlaw New Zealand. Other articles in The Expert’s Edge series: Current Civil Litigation insights and Current Employment insights The post The Expert’s Edge: New Zealand’s Aviation and Space Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
The Expert’s Edge: Current Employment Law insights from our leading editors
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. Further to our ongoing… The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Employment Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. Further to our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled legal intelligence, in this latest installment of our Editor’s Edge series we sit down with Kevin Leary MA, senior legal editor, to discuss his primary area of responsibility, Employment Law. What does your role as a legal editor at Thomson Reuters entail? As a Senior Legal Editor in the New Zealand Analytical Law team, I’ve been editing books (bound, looseleaf and online), articles and/or precedents for more than 20 years. A particular highlight has been two editorial stints (2009–2013 and 2023 onwards) with Employment Law (online, ebook, looseleaf), which will be celebrating its 35th anniversary next year (including its first 10 years under the name Brookers Employment Contracts). What does editorial work with Employment Law entail? Trying the patience of the author team (Phil Bartlett, Kylie Dunn, Chief Judge Inglis, AJ Lodge, Scott Worthy) with an endless stream of emails about the next manuscript-due dates, and this legislative development here, and that far-flung corner of commentary there … . Trying to keep up with the authors when they deliver! (Editing manuscript for New Zealand Law Style Guide compliance, converting it from Word to XML, requesting then checking the updated output in online/ebook/looseleaf formats, updating the What’s New page (online/ebook) and Bulletin (looseleaf).) Flagging updates of Employment Law in Alert 24 on Westlaw New Zealand. Looking for ways to improve Employment Law — for example, introducing a new section called Pending and Proposed Employment Legislation Changes in 2023, and a new online/ebook chapter called Judicial Papers and Speeches in 2025. What does Employment Law on Westlaw New Zealand cover? The Employment Relations Act 2000 and regulations (of course), with extensive annotated commentary. Legislation and commentary on other core employment topics (such as equal pay, health and safety at work, holidays, minimum wages, parental leave, protected disclosures, public service, wages protection). Commentary on special employment topics (including topics like police employment, common law). Supplementary material (practice notes, conventions, codes, judicial papers and speeches, author editorials, a glossary of employment terms). Links to full-text employment cases, Bills and historical legislation on the wider Westlaw New Zealand platform. What are some of the key developments currently shaping employment law? And what is coming down the track? This area of law is particularly fast-changing at present. Recent amendments include: The Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Act 2025 (in force on 27 August 2025) introduced a new type of personal grievance claim (adverse conduct for a remuneration disclosure reason). The Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 (in force on 1 July 2025) reinstated the 2015–2018 regime of pay deductions for partial strikes. The Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 (in force on 14 May 2025) rewrote the pay equity claims process under the Equal Pay Act 1972. The Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Act 2025 made changes to the Employment Relations Act 2000 and Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 on 30 March 2025, and to the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 on 1 July 2025. Further changes (currently in Bills before Parliament) include: The Employment Relations Amendment Bill 2025 (a Government Bill) proposes amendments in several key areas of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (determining employment status, terms/conditions of new employees, personal grievances). The Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill 2024 (a Member’s Bill) would allow for protected negotiations to occur between an employer and employee to terminate the employee’s contract. Other Government Bills with employment-related implications include the Public Service Amendment Bill 2025, the Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill 2025 and the Statutes Amendment Bill 2024. Other (pre-Bill) reform proposals include: Holidays Act 2003: officials were directed in late 2024 to change the proposed direction of reform (started in 2018) and begin work on an hours-based accrual model for annual leave. Workplace health and safety: a wide range of proposed reforms have been announced throughout 2024–2025. Besides all this, other topical issues in employment law include: Access/barriers to justice and representation/self-representation issues (being particular concerns in recent judicial papers and speeches). AI/algorithm issues (evidence/submissions, name suppression, privacy). The “Uber driver” litigation (awaiting a Supreme Court decision) and other “gig economy” cases. In short, there is heaps going on! How does Employment Law on Westlaw New Zealand provide current, comprehensive and accurate legal information on Employment Law? First and foremost is the very approachable, helpful and hard-working author team of respected employment law experts. Additionally, in-house teams working across different content types (legislation, cases, commentary) enable simultaneous (not consecutive) updating to better keep up with all the latest developments. Unlike the looseleaf format (the logistics of which limit the number of updates that can be published each year), Westlaw New Zealand can update daily, so new Employment Law content can go live online much faster. With no physical binder restraints, Employment Law on Westlaw New Zealand can easily expand to include new types of content (e.g. Judicial Papers and Speeches), while at the same time retaining repealed content for historical reference (e.g. COVID-19, fair pay agreements). Future law is also included: Pending and Proposed Employment Legislation Changes provides an overview of what is or might be changing; and once definitive (i.e. assented or promulgated but not yet in force), future amendments are displayed with the current legislation on Westlaw New Zealand. Anything else you’d like to share with us? As mentioned earlier, working on Employment Law has been a highlight for me. The field of employment law is an important, multi-faceted and fascinating part of the legal landscape in New Zealand, and one that at times (like now) can change rapidly and significantly. To be involved – along with many others behind the scenes at Thomson Reuters – in always striving to make Employment Law a leading source of current law is both challenging and thrilling. And it’s a privilege to interact with authors who are such experts in the field and so good at communicating their expertise in commentary. Employment Law’s expert author team Philip Bartlett (formerly of Bartlett Partners) Kylie Dunn (Partner, Smith Dunn) Christina Inglis (Chief Judge, Employment Court of New Zealand) Ashley-Jayne (AJ) Lodge (Partner, Anderson Lloyd) Scott Worthy (Executive Partner, Kiely Thompson Caisley) Thank you to Kevin Leary, senior legal editor and his team of expert authors in employment. As a legal professional, if you are in need of the most up-to-date and trusted employment legal content in New Zealand, look no further than the Employment Practice Area on Westlaw New Zealand. Other articles in The Expert’s Edge series: Current Civil Litigation insights The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Employment Law insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
The Expert’s Edge: Current Civil Litigation insights from our leading editors
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment… The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Civil Litigation insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical for lawyers and their clients. In our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled legal intelligence, this latest installment of our Expert’s Edge series we sit down with Jason Bull BA LLB senior legal editor, to understand how he keeps our keystone title, McGechan on Procedure, and other titles up to date in a constantly changing environment. What does your role as legal editor at Thomson Reuters entail? I’ve worked with Thomson Reuters for over 20 years across many different editorial roles, but currently I edit products in the Civil Litigation Practice area. A typical day for me involves ensuring that our busy authors have the time and resource they need to respond to any legislative and case law changes so we can hit our update deadlines. Once one of our authors has handed in the manuscript, I work to ensure that it’s edited and checked before moving the manuscript to the next step – releasing on Westlaw NZ and through print media. I think one of the biggest improvements in legal publishing at Thomson Reuters in the past 10 years has been our ability to add new and updated content to Westlaw with speed. Can you tell us about the Civil Litigation practice area? My focus is on the Civil Litigation practice area – one of the cornerstones of our Westlaw NZ offering. This area includes the flagship McGechan on Procedure, New Zealand’s leading and most-cited text on civil procedure. I also manage its younger sibling Civil Procedure: District Court & Tribunals. The rules of civil litigation are always being monitored and improved upon – so there is always change and development in the law. It may sound dry – but trust me, there is never a dull moment! What are some of the key developments or challenges shaping Civil Litigation now, and in the future? Currently there are two major change projects being led by the Ministry of Justice in conjunction with the judiciary and other stakeholders. First, is the Improved Access to Civil Justice project. This resulted in amendments to the High Court Rules, commencing on 1 January 2026. These amendments are significant – they introduce a proportionality test as the overriding objective for the just resolution of proceedings and impose a general duty on parties and counsel to co-operate with each other according to the overriding objective. Amendments to parts 7, 8 and 9 of the High Court Rules flow on from these objectives and will require new commentary. Second is Te Au Reka. This is the Ministry of Justice’s new digital case flow management system that will help to transform the administration of courts in New Zealand. It is a joint initiative of the judiciary and Ministry. The Family Court will be the first to use Te Au Reka from July 2026, with the District Court and High Court to follow. A number of the current Court rules are not suited to the digital processes envisaged by Te Au Reka and the Ministry is consulting with the judiciary and practitioners on the rule changes required. How does Westlaw consistently provide the most current, comprehensive and accurate legal information in Civil Litigation? Westlaw NZ is not constrained by a traditional looseleaf print update cycle. Legislative changes appear as soon as they’re in force, which is great for our customers, but this immediacy puts the onus on editors and authors to prepare and respond. McGechan is a real pleasure to work on due to the erudite and professional author team – which includes members of the judiciary (Justice Robert Osborne; Justice Jason McHerron), and senior members of the profession. Stephanie Grieve KC is a member of the Rules Committee, which has oversight responsibility for the rules of procedure in NZ’s courts. It is no accident that the authors know about significant change well before it happens, and always respond with timely, well-informed, considered commentary. Anything else you think we need to know? McGechan on Procedure is one of Thomson Reuter’s most well-known and respected commentary products. There have been a number of highly professional author teams over the years. McGechan continues to buck the trend with high hardcopy subscriber numbers – reflecting the value of books to hand in courtroom litigation. Expert author team McGechan on Procedure Jessica Gorman – Policy Advisor (Legal), Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Wellington Stephanie Grieve KC – Barrister, Plymouth Chambers, Christchurch Justice Jason McHerron – High Court, Wellington Justice Robert Osborne – High Court, Christchurch Nicholas Wood – Special Counsel, Chapman Tripp, Wellington Specialist contributors:- Judge Philip Rzepecky – District Court, Whangarei (Admiralty) Greg Kelly – Consultant, Greg Kelly Law (Probate) Civil Procedure: District Court & Tribunals Christopher Chapman – Barrister, Wellington Christopher LaHatte – Barrister, Wellington Sean McAnally – Barrister, FortyEight Shortland Barristers, Auckland; Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal adjudicator (part-time) Thomas Joseph – Senior Solicitor, Christchurch Specialist contributors:- Robyn Merrett – Tenancy Tribunal adjudicator, Christchurch Peter Spiller – Chair, Immigration and Protection Tribunal Thank you to Jason Bull, senior legal editor and his team of expert authors in Civil Litigation. As a legal professional, if you are in need of the most up-to-date and trusted civil litigation legal content in New Zealand, look no further than the Court Practice & Procedure Practice Area on Westlaw New Zealand. The post The Expert’s Edge: Current Civil Litigation insights from our leading editors appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
Measure What Really Matters In today’s legal sector, technology is no longer an experiment – it’s the cornerstone of strategic growth. As clients become more exacting, regulation and legislation changes… The post The ROI of Legal Tech & AI Report 2025 appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
Measure What Really Matters In today’s legal sector, technology is no longer an experiment – it’s the cornerstone of strategic growth. As clients become more exacting, regulation and legislation changes intensify, and competition plays out on a global stage, legal professionals must make a choice – adapt and thrive or risk being left behind. Our latest report, The ROI of Legal Tech & AI, delivers the insights you need to navigate these shifts with confidence, and the numbers to demonstrate that legal-related tech is an investment in future success. Drawing on responses from 1000 legal professionals across Australia, Asia, New Zealand, and the Middle East, this report offers the data so you can make more confident decisions. Adapt or Be Left Behind Legal-related technology has become fundamental for sustained relevance and competitive advantage in a market that’s never been noisier or moving faster. Law firms are prioritising digital transformation, cyber security resilience, and transforming client service delivery models to keep pace with shifting expectations. In-house legal teams are searching for ways to increase service quality, protect their data and drive innovation. Both are battling to attract and retain the best talent, while facing competition not just from local players, but around the world. Legal-related technology is no longer a ‘nice to have’ it’s essential armour in an environment where a single compliance miss or data breach can have existential consequences, while the competition keeps knocking on the door. What’s Driving Real Returns? Beyond just efficiency, the report reveals what metrics matter the most when measuring ROI on legal-related technology spends. Risk Reduction: 46% of law firm respondents and 49% of in-house teams say data protection and reduced breach incidents are crucial. Service Quality: 58% of law firms and 51% of in-house teams cite improved customer experience as top ROI metrics to measure. Innovation, not headcount reduction: Nearly half of decision makers see ‘level of innovation’ as a key ROI metric, yet headcount reduction appears near the bottom for both in-house counsel and law firms. Legal tech is helping professionals save between one and three hours on routine tasks such as contract drafting, legal research, matter management, and discovery. But the benefits go beyond time saved: 36% of law firm users say technology gives them a competitive edge, 33% report reduced stress, and 32% feeling more confident at work. For in-house teams it looks similar, 33% feel more confident, 32% experience less stress, and 30% find collaboration easier. More and more your organisation’s technology offering is a key draw card for attracting the best talent, and a workforce that feels less stressed and more confident is also one that tends to stick around. Adoption of AI is Accelerating In this report we found that 65% of law firms now have either an AI strategy or a responsible use policy in place – or both. In-house teams are even further ahead, with 79% reporting new levels of maturity in their AI approach. Download the Full Report and Lead with Confidence Download The ROI of Legal Tech & AI to unlock: Hard data on ROI timelines and expectations Insights into risk mitigation, innovation, and service quality Why measuring intangible benefits are just as important Strategies for responsible AI adoption and robust governance. Don’t let the future pass you by. Fill out the form to access your copy and discover how to build a resilient, future-ready legal team or firm. The post The ROI of Legal Tech & AI Report 2025 appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Bill Introduced, and New Online Race and Sports Betting Ban in Place
New Zealanders spend approximately $700m annually on online casino gambling. This is currently with offshore based providers who are outside the reach of New Zealand’s regulator. The current position is… The post New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Bill Introduced, and New Online Race and Sports Betting Ban in Place appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
New Zealanders spend approximately $700m annually on online casino gambling. This is currently with offshore based providers who are outside the reach of New Zealand’s regulator. The current position is unsatisfactory as it is common for players not to be paid when they win large prizes, there are no formal harm minimisation controls, and limited tax revenue is received. The Government has taken steps to change this, by regulating and licensing online gambling. Jarrod True is the Author of Gambling Law, a comprehensive resource published by Thomson Reuters on the various forms of gambling in New Zealand. Thomson Reuters New Zealand caught up with Jarrod to get an update on New Zealand’s online gambling reform. What will the online casino licensing system look like and what is the expected timing? Legislation for a licensing system for online casinos (the Online Casino Gambling Bill) was introduced to the New Zealand Parliament on 30 June 2025. Targeted consultation is currently underway on the advertising, harm minimisation, and consumer protection regulations. Licences will be allocated through a three-stage process: expressions of interest; an auction by persons invited by the Regulator; and a full licence application by the successful bidders. The new online casino licences are expected to be issued between August and December 2026. There will be 15 licences available, allocated by auction. One licence will be required per platform/brand/website. The licence limit will apply to platforms, rather than operators. An operator can hold no more than three of the 15 total licences. The licences will be for a three-year period with one right of renewal of up to five years. Operators will only be able to offer online casino games. This will include slot machines, table games, such as blackjack, poker, or baccarat, and virtual sports and racing betting (betting on a computer-simulated event). What tools will the New Zealand Regulator have to enforce the new online casino rules? The new legislation will be extra-territorial (it will apply regardless of whether the provider is based in or outside New Zealand). The Regulator will have a range of enforcement tools, including formal warnings, enforceable undertakings, take-down notices, and pecuniary penalties (up to $5m). A monetary penalty can be imposed simultaneously on both the provider and the provider’s directors and/or management staff. What are your overall thoughts on this legislation and licensing framework? Overall, the proposed charges are a highly positive development. Online gambling is already widespread in New Zealand. Regulating the market will enhance consumer protections, introduce more effective harm minimisation strategies, and generate additional tax revenue for the Government. The success of the initiative will ultimately hinge on the quality of the legislative framework. The regulated offering must remain sufficiently attractive to deter players from engaging with unregulated offshore providers, while simultaneously ensuring robust safeguards are in place. What is the thinking behind allowing just 15 licensees in the market? The decision to cap the number of licences at fifteen reflects a strategic balance. It ensures adequate competition and consumer choice, while remaining manageable for the Regulator to actively monitor and enforce compliance. Additionally, limiting the number of licences increases the potential revenue from the initial auction process, providing a financial incentive for the Government. How likely is it the market could expand to allow more licensees over time? It is unlikely that the Government will expand the number of licences in the near term. The licences to be auctioned will effectively span eight years—comprising an initial three-year term with a five-year right of renewal. Introducing additional licensees during this period would undermine the value of the original licences and be unfair to those who participated in the initial auction. Any reconsideration of licence numbers—whether an increase or decrease—is most likely to occur in 2034. Would you be able to shed any light on why online casino and online race and sports betting have different rules? From 28 June 2025, it is unlawful for anyone apart from TAB New Zealand to offer online race and sports betting to persons located in New Zealand and unlawful for New Zealanders to place race and sports bets with anyone apart from TAB New Zealand. The prohibition includes race and sports betting events that take place both within and outside New Zealand. TAB New Zealand has been granted a monopoly over race and sports betting due to its role in distributing profits to the racing industry. The racing sector is highly valued in New Zealand, both for its economic contribution and the substantial number of people it employs. Political support has also played a role—particularly from Winston Peters, leader of one of the Government’s coalition partners, who is a longstanding advocate for the racing industry. Will the implementation of the Online Casino Gambling Bill be smooth sailing for the Government? The Online Casino Gambling Bill passed its first reading with support from all three Government coalition partners and the Green Party. Only the Labour Party and the Māori Party initially opposed the Bill. The Bill will now be referred to Select Committee. During the Select Committee process, the Government is expected to face opposition from problem gambling treatment organisations, who are already advocating for a complete ban on gambling advertising. These groups perceive the proposed regulatory framework as too lenient and insufficient in addressing the risks associated with gambling-related harm. Additionally, existing land-based gambling providers—particularly the non-casino gaming machine sector—may resist the changes. This sector is operated by non-profit entities that return all their profits to the community through grants. In 2024 alone, 26,696 grants totalling over NZ$366 million were distributed. The sector is subject to strict regulations, including a maximum bet of NZ$2.50, a jackpot cap of NZ$1,000, minimal advertising, and active player monitoring. In contrast, the proposed online casino system offers fewer restrictions and a more appealing product, potentially diverting gambling activity and profits away from community-focused operators and towards commercial offshore entities. Despite anticipated opposition, the Government has made it clear that the online licensing system is a priority and will be implemented. While gambling-related issues typically generate significant public feedback and concern, the current administration remains committed to launching the system, with licensed providers expected to be operational from August 2026. Thank you to Jarrod True who is widely recognised as New Zealand’s leading expert in gambling law. He regularly advises on New Zealand’s online gambling legislation and regulatory framework. He is well-positioned to assist operators seeking to assess the viability of entering the New Zealand market and to support those wishing to pursue an online gambling licence. As a legal professional, if you are in need of a one-stop resource on gambling law in New Zealand, look no further than Gambling Law in the Administrative & Public Law Practice Area on Westlaw New Zealand or as a book/ebook Gambling Law published by Thomson Reuters. The post New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Bill Introduced, and New Online Race and Sports Betting Ban in Place appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
6 lessons on AI adoption for New Zealand lawyers
Since launching in Australia and New Zealand in early 2024, a growing number of law firms and in-house legal teams have adopted CoCounsel. What’s become clear is that the success of… The post 6 lessons on AI adoption for New Zealand lawyers appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.
Since launching in Australia and New Zealand in early 2024, a growing number of law firms and in-house legal teams have adopted CoCounsel. What’s become clear is that the success of AI adoption is not just a question of technology—it’s a matter of strategy, change management and trust. According to the Future of Professionals Report 2025, organisations with a visible AI strategy are 3.5 times more likely to realise benefits from AI than those taking an informal approach. Off the back of the most successful implementations of CoCounsel in Australia and New Zealand, here are the top 6 lessons learned. Read on for insights to help you move beyond experimentation and into lasting transformation. 1. Target ‘use cases’ over initial firm-wide rollouts Broad-based technology launches can overwhelm large legal teams. The strongest results have come from teams that start small. They focus on high impact, high friction ‘use cases’ where AI can clearly save time or reduce risk. By demonstrating quick wins, these early use cases help convert sceptics into champions and build momentum organically. For example, legal teams using CoCounsel are successfully accelerating contract review workflows and drafting chronologies in litigation. These wins pave the way for wider AI adoption. Takeaway: Start where the pain is visible and value is measurable. 2. Social proof drives momentum Once success is achieved, it is time to share it! Social proof, via both internal and external communication channels, is critical in building confidence and broadening adoption. Law firms are using internal communications, AI expo days and team meetings to showcase specific AI success stories. Others are co-authoring case studies or client-facing thought leadership content to demonstrate their innovation credentials in the legal community. Takeaway: Make AI wins visible. Internal comms and success stories matter. 3. Change management is the hard part Technology is straight forward, but people are diverse and nuanced. Lawyers are trained to be cautious and risk-averse, and many are understandably hesitant about AI. Firms that succeed with adoption invest heavily in ongoing learning, not just one-off training sessions. We’ve hosted 80+ AI Skills Challenges with law firms and in-house teams, that bring together legal teams to use CoCounsel to solve real problems. These social and informal forums foster buy-in far more effectively than compulsory training. Takeaway: Approach change as a cultural shift, not a technology deployment. 4. Client-first framing matters Some of the most effective messaging focuses on client expectations, not internal efficiency. The reality is that clients, particularly in sectors like banking and finance, technology and construction, are already using AI. They expect their legal providers to keep pace. Highlighting the risk of falling behind (losing clients, missing new value opportunities) has helped reframe AI as a competitive necessity. And by understanding how their clients are using AI, lawyers are better positioned to provide proactive, AI-savvy counsel. Takeaway: Position AI adoption as a strategic move to serve clients better and stay competitive. 5. Partner with your vendors, not just your tech stack Legal teams benefit from treating vendors not just as product providers, but as implementation success partners. Trusted vendors like Thomson Reuters are well-placed to run workshops, facilitate learning challenges and share anonymised peer insights. In Australia and New Zealand, many firms have benefited from hearing how similarly sized firms have approached adoption, which use cases they’ve prioritised and what AI trends are emerging in their client industries. Takeaway: Leverage your vendor’s ecosystem, not just their product. 6. Localisation is non-negotiable Australian and New Zealand lawyers are rightly cautious about generic AI. The most effective solutions are those integrated with trusted local legal content, aligned to local terminology, precedent and legal reasoning, and built with feedback from lawyers in the region. Firms consistently tell us that ‘local trust’ is one of the most important factors in AI evaluation, and it’s earned through local content, local relevance and local support. Takeaway: AI must reflect the legal, cultural and linguistic nuances of Australia and New Zealand practice. AI adoption in the legal sector is not a one-time rollout, it’s a journey of behavioural change, trust-building and continuous iteration. CoCounsel’s experience across New Zealand and Australia shows that success starts with specificity, grows through storytelling and sticks when it aligns with how lawyers work. If your firm is just starting its journey or preparing to scale AI adoption, these insights can be downloaded here and serve as a strategic guide. And if you’re already on the path, make sure you keep sharing what works. The future of the legal market is being shaped now. The post 6 lessons on AI adoption for New Zealand lawyers appeared first on TR - Legal Insight New Zealand.