Expertise

Property

Overview
Specialised property law expertise that leaves no stone unturned, no box unticked

If you need a lawyer for property sales, leases, subdivisions or any other aspect of owning or developing residential or commercial property in New Zealand, you can expect courteous, expert and cost-efficient service from Hesketh Henry.

Our track record with property law in New Zealand extends for more than 150 years and some of our current institutional clients have been using our services for over a century. We work with a wide range of property owners throughout the country, from first-time home buyers through to retirement village operators, apartment developers, commercial office investors and large non-government entities, such as church and iwi organisations.

Our sizeable property team includes a significant number of senior lawyers as well as more junior lawyers, who can provide cost effective documentation. We work in an open-plan office environment because it supports collaboration and knowledge sharing. In  property transactions, it’s important to pull together to cost effectively achieve the best outcome for every client. Backing up everything we do is a sophisticated data storage system that allows us to securely share files with clients and the regulatory authorities we deal with.

Where property law overlaps with other areas of law, such as estate planning and disputes, we integrate closely with other Hesketh Henry teams. Our clients appreciate this ‘one stop shop’ experience because it saves time, reduces stress and helps to keep legal expenses under control.

Need advice on Property?
Contact the expert team at Hesketh Henry.
Examples

Examples of work completed by our team include:

  • Advising on the design, build and lease of premises for a confectionery manufacturer which supplies to a major retailer;
  • Advising The Warehouse, NZ’s largest retailer, for the past 20 years;
  • Advising on a range of unit title developments throughout New Zealand, including acting for receivers to complete and sell a complex Unit Title development in a heritage building;
  • In 2008, being involved in the sale of the highest value commercial property sold on Queen Street, Auckland; and
  • Advising on the roll-out for a significant telecommunications provider; cell-site / telecommunications leases, licences over local authority subsoil and street furniture; Department of Conservation concessions; airspace rights and easements (including over pastoral lease land).
Key Contacts
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Insights & Opinion / Property

solar
OIO Spotlight: Solar projects, exempted interests and farmland considerations
As New Zealand renewable energy developments continue to attract interest from global investors, we take a look at some recent approaches of the Overseas Investment Office in assessing consent require...
property division concept
Supreme Court unanimously dismisses relationship property appeal. 
Last year we published an article titled The curious case of Sutton v Bell – How your de facto relationship status can impact your ability to restructure your property on the Court of Appeal decisio...
16.08.2023 Posted in Private Wealth & Property
Commercialbuildingsblackandwhite
Developer Alert: OIO indicates discretionary exemptions may be possible for holders of Transitional Exemption Certificates
Developers of large apartment developments holding transitional exemption certificates (which are set to expire in August 2023) may be able to get a discretionary exemption from the OIO, which would a...
28.07.2023 Posted in Business Advice & Foreign Investment & Property
HH Pg  Forrest uncropped
Pathways for Foreign Investment in NZ Forestry
Forestry is a strategically important industry for New Zealand and one which has traditionally received substantial amounts of foreign investment.  In recent years, changes have been made to the over...
18.07.2023 Posted in Foreign Investment & Forestry & Property
ETS Scheme Consultation Commences
On 19 June 2023 the Government launched a consultation process around possible changes to New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme.  Our Forestry Team looks at key features. Cyclones, flooding and ot...
04.07.2023 Posted in Business Advice & Climate Change & Forestry & Property
retirement
Retirement Village Law under Review
Is the current Retirement Village legislation fit for purpose and is it unfair to residents?
22.06.2023 Posted in Property
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Property Law Act COVID Extensions to End in March
Extended timeframes for taking enforcement action on mortgage defaults and unpaid commercial lease rental will come to an end on 20 March 2023. The extended timeframes were brought in by amendments to...
03.03.2023 Posted in COVID-19 & Property
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