Congratulations to Stefanie McKenzie on Her Admission to the Bar AWS Legal is proud to congratulate Stefanie McKenzie on her admission to the Bar, a significant milestone in her legal career. Stefanie was formally admitted at the Christchurch High Court on Friday, 19 June 2026, in a ceremony attended by her close friends and family. […]
The Government’s recent update to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa has created a significant opportunity for international investors wishing to build meaningful connections in Aotearoa New Zealand. One of the most exciting new developments is the inclusion of philanthropic giving within the investment framework. Under the new guidelines, up to 20% of an investor’s […]
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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 […]
Read More… from Active Investor Plus Visa Update: Queenstown Luxury Homes Within Reach
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 […]
Read More… from Congratulations Grace Milne – Admitted to the Bar!
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 […]
Read More… from Navigating the New Biometric Processing Privacy Code: What Businesses Need to Know
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 […]
Read More… from Congratulations to our newest Solicitor: Wilfred Griffiths
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 […]
Read More… from Reducing your Risk when Purchasing a Property
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 […]