Author | Isobel Howe & Haydon Cunninghame As of today, the updated Active Investor Plus Visa settings are officially in force, signalling a renewed focus on attracting high-value, growth-oriented investment into Aotearoa New Zealand. While this is a nationwide change, the implications for Queenstown and Southland are particularly interesting. Our region has long been built […]
More than 20% of properties currently listed in the Queenstown Lakes District are valued at NZ$5 million or more (realestate.co.nz, December 2025). This reflects the high concentration of premium homes in Otago and underscores Queenstown’s status as New Zealand’s leading luxury lifestyle market. On 13 December 2025, the New Zealand Government passed the Overseas Investment […]
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AWS Legal is proud to celebrate the recent admission of Grace Milne as a Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Grace was formally admitted at a ceremony held in Dunedin on 21 October 2025, surrounded by her closest supporters – including her mother Janet Copeland (who had the honour of acting as her […]
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What’s changing — and why it matters The Biometric Processing Privacy Code 2025 has been finalised and will take effect on 3 November 2025. It replaces the general Information Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 2020 wherever automated biometric processing is used. Organisations already using biometric systems before that date have until 3 August 2026 to […]
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Yesterday at the Invercargill High Court, Wilfred Griffiths was admitted as a Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Attending in support of this special occasion was Wilf’s very proud parents Tracy and Troy who travelled from Te Anau, and his Grandparents who made the trip from Wellington. Wilf joined AWS Legal as a […]
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For many people, buying a property is one of the biggest investments they make in their lifetime. There are many potential risks when purchasing a property which can be mitigated as follows:- Step 1: Have your solicitor review the Agreement for Sale and Purchase before signing. We can ensure the Agreement reflects your intentions and […]
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Kia Ora , I was reminded by my 23 year old son this morning that today is International Women’s Day. One of the focuses is a reminder of the progress towards gender equality – a topic that comes up often in many areas of life and business as well as raising awareness about women’s rights. […]
Tori is a graduate Law Clerk in our Invercargill office with our Successions, Trusts and Estates Team. After obtaining both a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Environmental Management at Otago University, Tori chose AWS Legal in Invercargill as the right place to start her law career due to its […]
Make your home-buying journey smoother, smarter, and stress-free with our concise and easy-to-follow guide. 1. Know Your Budget Just like planning a road trip, you need to know how far your fuel (in this case, money) can take you. Crunch some numbers, see what you can afford monthly, and don’t forget to factor in ongoing […]
Read More… from From Dreaming to Buying a Home: Your Fast-Track Guide with our Quick Checklist
Tuesday marked a significant milestone for Jessica Yeo and AWS Legal as Jess was officially admitted to the bar. A dedicated member of our Property and Projects team, Jess’s accomplishment represents her commitment to legal excellence and the culmination of years of hard work. Trudy Conway, Partner at AWS Legal and the lawyer who had […]
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