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In this episode of the Election 2026 podcast series, Solicitor Michael O’Brien is joined by Partner Briony Davies and Senior Associate Mark Calderwood to discuss the rules and risks around government advertising in an election year. Their discussion explores why government funded advertising attracts heightened scrutiny during election periods, how it differs from political advertising, where the relevant rules come from, and why drawing the line between legitimate public information and electioneering can be difficult in practice.

[01:08] Mark explains why government advertising matters in an election context, referencing the 2006 Auditor General’s re...

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In this episode, Financial Services Partner Jeremy Muir and Property Senior Associate Victoria Tatam consider how cryptocurrency can be used in New Zealand real property transactions, discussing the legal, practical and conveyancing issues that can arise when real estate meets blockchain technology.

[00:49] Jeremy and Victoria discuss the growing interest in cryptocurrency property transactions in New Zealand, explaining how digital currencies such as Bitcoin, although novel, could be used as a settlement payment where both parties agree and with the right legal structure in place.

[02:32] Jeremy talks through the origins...

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In this episode of the Election 2026 podcast series, Senior Associate Mark Calderwood is joined by Partner Megan Evans and Special Counsel Daniel Fielding to unpack how political expression on social media is regulated in an election year, and the legal risks that can arise in both the public and private sectors.

[01:04] Mark sets the scene for a likely surge in political content online as the election approaches, and why employees and employers alike should be thinking carefully about what is appropriate to post and share.

[01:47] Daniel outlines the role...

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In this episode, privacy law specialists Richard Wells and Suzy McMillan consider the legal framework governing data retention and destruction and how organisations can strike the right balance between regulatory compliance and commercial practicality in the age of big data.

[00:37] Richard and Suzy talk about the growing challenges organisations face in a data driven era, where the temptation to store information indefinitely can lead to significant privacy, security, and compliance risks.

[02:07] Richard and Suzy outline the regulatory framework that governs data retention, focusing on Information Privacy Principle (IPP) 9 of...

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In this episode, Banking Senior Associate Emma Geard, speaks with Philip Bruno, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at ACI Worldwide, about payments modernisation – what it is, why it matters for New Zealand right now, and the global lessons that can help guide successful implementation.

[01:14] Emma and Philip discuss ACI Worldwide's global role in payments modernisation, including its work providing payments infrastructure software and services to banks and central banks across more than 90 countries.

[02:04] They consider why payments modernisation is becoming increasingly important for New Zealand. Philip notes that although Ne...

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For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode, Partner Richard Wells and Senior Associate Sarah Redding from our Corporate and Commercial team discuss Heads of Agreement (HOA) and Letters of Intent (LOI), examining why parties turn to them, what can go wrong, and steps to take to ensure these preliminary documents work for you, rather than against you.

[01:09] Richard and Sarah explain how HOAs and LOIs function as preliminary documents, typically used in situations where there is commercial urgency to quickly define the parameters of a transaction, setting out the key commercial terms of a deal...

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In this episode, Technology Partner Tom Maasland and Litigation Partner Andrew Horne examine AI through an insurance risk lens, discussing what insurers are most concerned about, how those concerns are evolving, and what professional firms and businesses need to do to stay insurable as AI use becomes mainstream.

[01:07] Tom and Andy reflect on how recent insurer conversations have shifted from traditional cyber security concerns to AI taking centre stage, with insurers increasingly focused on how AI related risks translate into real world liabilities and claims exposure.

[02:51] Andy talks through...

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In this episode, Technology Partner Tom Maasland is joined by Senior Associate Oliver Sutton from our Litigation team to examine how the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is affecting the application of legal privilege.

[01:20] Oliver outlines the three most common forms of legal privilege encountered in practice: solicitor client privilege, litigation privilege, and privilege for settlement negotiations, explaining the fundamental interplay with confidentiality.

[02:58] Oliver discusses both intentional and inadvertent waiver of legal privilege, including disclosures made during litigation, information sharing with third parties, and accidental disclosures through emails...

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In the first episode of our new Election 2026 series, Litigation and Public Law Partner, Briony Davies, Special Counsel Daniel Fielding and Senior Associate Mark Calderwood, explore New Zealand’s waka jumping legislation and what it means for MPs under the MMP system. They explain how an MP’s seat can be vacated, how the courts have interpreted proportionality, and why legal challenges to party decisions are so difficult to sustain.

[01:40–03:40] Briony introduces the topic of waka jumping and asks Mark to explain what the term means in legal terms. Mark describes waka j...

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In this follow up episode, Partners Gillian Service and Megan Evans, discuss the Holidays Act reform. They explore why the reform is significant, what operational changes employers should prepare for, and how these changes aim to simplify compliance and reduce litigation. From hours-based leave accrual to mandatory pay statements and the introduction of leave compensation payments, Gillian and Megan provide practical insights and highlight key challenges businesses may face during the transition period.

[01:06] Gillian explains that unclear laws lead to non-compliance and litigation. Megan adds that previous governments have tried and...

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In our final episode for 2025, Technology Partner Tom Maasland reconnects with ChatGPT, now powered by GPT-5.2, to explore the rapid evolution of conversational AI and its potential impact on the legal landscape. Join us for a festive and engaging discussion on what the future holds for law and technology with one of our most thought-provoking guests.

[01:31] Tom dives into this interview explaining the premise of the episode to ChatGPT-5.2 and the audience. ChatGPT-5.2 introduces itself and Tom recalls the 2024 interview with GPT 4.0.

[03:02] ChatGPT-5.2 shares major upgrades since GPT 4.0: Smoother...

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In this episode, Sustainability Leader and Partner Holly Hill sits down with Matt Connolly, Air New Zealand's Sustainability Lead for Energy Transition, to explore the airline's leading initiatives including its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) trial, climate-related transition plan, next generation aircrafts, and fuel optimisation.

[01:14] Holly and Matt discuss that aviation is inherently unsustainable because it relies on burning fossil fuels, making it a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

[02:19] Holly and Matt explore Air New Zealand’s current use of SAF, noting its scarcity and high cost. He explains th...

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In this episode, Technology Partner Kate Cruickshank sits down with Buddhika Rajapakse, Associate Director at Concept Consulting, to explore the untapped potential of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology in New Zealand and discuss the key findings from the recently released multi-client report Powerful Potential: New Zealand’s Vehicle-to-Grid Opportunity.

[01:14] Kate and Buddhika consider the fundamentals of bi-directional electric vehicle (EV) charging and why EV batteries represent a unique and flexible energy storage opportunity. They explain that, beyond powering a car, an EV battery can also be used in certain circumstances to supply el...

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In this episode, Partner Tom Maasland and Senior Solicitor Abbey James from our Technology team unpack Transitional Services Agreements (TSAs), a critical yet often overlooked component of business transitions, offering both legal and practical insights to help navigate them with confidence.

[00:50] Tom and Abbey discuss the fundamentals of TSAs, explaining what they are, the services they typically cover, and how they help buyers “keep the lights on” and maintain business continuity during the transition to full operational independence after a purchase.

[02:08] Abbey and Tom explore what should be included (and...

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In this episode, Partner Kate Cruickshank, and Special Counsel Lauren Archer from our Technology team, discuss how to structure a gaming development studio for long-term success, protect its intellectual property (IP), and leverage opportunities to adapt games into films.

[01:11] Kate and Lauren discuss why business structure matters from the outset for creative ventures. Lauren explains that while there’s no single correct business structure, choosing the right one early prevents future complications. She outlines some guiding principles: simplicity, flexibility and scalability, asset protection, and tax efficiency, which should be considered to su...

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In this episode, privacy experts Richard Wells and Suzy McMillan take a close look at the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in New Zealand. They evaluate a recent report from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) on Foodstuffs North Island’s (Foodstuffs) FRT trial, highlighting key insights for organisations considering the future use of this technology.

[02:30] Suzy explains what FRT is and how it works by mapping and comparing facial features to create a biometric template for either verification (one-to-one matching) or identification (one-to-many matching), and how it’s appl...

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In this episode, Financial Services Partner Jeremy Muir speaks with Litigation Senior Associate Oliver Sutton about the legal complexities of cryptocurrency enforcement, offering their insights on how legal institutions are responding to the unique challenges posed by decentralised digital assets.

[01:18] Jeremy and Oliver begin by addressing the jurisdictional “million-dollar question” of which laws govern cryptocurrency disputes. They note that traditional principles, such as lex situs, are difficult to apply to de-centralised digital assets, and discuss recent decisions from New Zealand and the United Kingdom that illustrate how case law is beginning to n...

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For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

Send us your feedback

For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

Send us your feedback

For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

Send us your feedback

In this episode, Financial Services partner Jeremy Muir sits down with Nicolas Turnbull, Co-Founder of Crypto Consulting NZ, to explore New Zealand’s rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Jeremy and Nicolas discuss adoption trends and grassroots innovation in New Zealand, and offer practical insights for navigating digital assets.

[01:25] Nicolas explains how his journey through New Zealand’s crypto landscape has evolved. From his early days mining Ethereum and co-founding Cryptocurrency NZ to launching Crypto Consulting NZ, which supports everyday Kiwis and businesses navigate the complexities of digital assets.

[02:45] Jeremy and Nico...

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In this episode, Technology Partner Tom Maasland and Senior Associate Jess Bremner, discuss the opportunities and challenges in New Zealand’s fast-growing data centre infrastructure sector.

[01:34] Tom and Jess consider why global investors are looking beyond traditional data centre markets and how New Zealand’s abundant renewable energy, natural cooling, and land availability are making it a prime destination for sustainable, large-scale data centre developments.

[03:16] Jess discusses the scale of power demands of modern data centres, comparing it to household energy use and highlighting why access to reliable, clean powe...

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For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

Send us your feedback

For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode of Judgment Junction, Litigation Partner Jane Standage and Senior Associate Olivia de Pont, discuss the Privy Council's recent decision in Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd v Oasis Investments II Master Fund Ltd No 2 [2025] UKPC 34. This landmark ruling confirms that shareholders do not have the right to access a company's privileged legal advice. 

The discussion covers the historical context of the "shareholder rule," its criticisms, and the implications of this decision for company directors and shareholders, particularly in the context of increasing shareholder litigation and ESG-related actions.

[00:14]: Jane a...

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In this episode, Privacy experts Richard Wells and Suzy McMillan discuss the Privacy Amendment Bill, with a focus on the proposed introduction of Information Privacy Principle (IPP) 3A.

[01:12] Suzy explains the background and rationale for the introduction of IPP 3A, which is intended to increase data transparency in relation to the indirect collection of personal information and reduce a gap in New Zealand’s privacy laws under the Privacy Act 2020.

[04:47] Richard highlights how the reform has also been driven by the need to preserve New Zealand’s ‘adequacy’ status under th...

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For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode, Jane Parker and Hannah Jaques, share practical legal insights on how to effectively navigate tech project disputes.

[00:30] Jane and Hannah begin by outlining the initial steps parties should take when signs of tech project trouble begin to appear, such as cost overruns, technical failures, or deviations from the contract.

[01:48] Jane highlights the importance of reassessing operational objectives from a commercial perspective once a dispute arises, and how this reassessment can shape the approach to resolution.

[04:07] Hannah emphasises, that from a litigation perspective, finding “solid gr...

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For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode Corporate Partner Tayla Johnston is joined by Beini Guo, a Director in the Corporate Finance team at  PwC. Beini, a Chartered Financial Analyst with more than a decade of M&A experience, shares insights into the various services provided by PwC’s Corporate Finance team, the lifecycle of a typical deal, and the impact of global events on valuation. Tayla and Beini also discuss common deal issues, M&A trends and how PwC is utilsing AI. 

[01:04] Beini provides an overview of the different teams within PwC's deals umbrella, incl...

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For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode, Technology partners, Kate Cruickshank and Tom Maasland, share their reflections on the AI Impact Series, drawing from their conversations with leaders and innovators across six major New Zealand sectors. 

They highlight some of the impressive real-world applications of AI in these industries, consider common challenges and emerging solutions, and explore what’s needed to unlock AI’s full potential for New Zealand.

[00:52] Kate and Tom reflect on the practical and creative adoption of AI across New Zealand’s key sectors, highlighting standout innovations shared by interviewees, from AI...

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In this episode of Data Room’s Dealmaker Series, Partner Neil Millar speaks with Simon Kriechbaum from Five V Capital, a private equity fund that recently expanded into New Zealand. The conversation explores how private equity works, what makes it a compelling option for business owners considering an exit, and how Five V Capital approaches partnerships, growth strategies, and long-term value creation. Simon shares insights into the private equity process, common misconceptions, and how business owners can prepare for a successful transaction.

[01:04] Simon explains Five V Capital’s origins, its $3 billion unde...

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In this episode, Technology partner Tom Maasland speaks with Maria Mingallon, Regional Knowledge and Information Manager and Digital AI Lead at Mott MacDonald (Asia, Pacific, New Zealand and Australia) about how AI is reshaping the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector.

[01:28] Tom and Maria discuss current examples of AI technologies utilised by the AEC sector, such as predictive modelling, computer vision for safety compliance, optical character recognition for digitisation, and AI-powered drones for infrastructure projects, which analyse structural data through both visual and acoustic sensors, enabling early detection of potential defects.<...

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In this episode, Technology Partner Tom Maasland speaks with Craig Pattison, Business Strategist and COO at Capability Collective and a leading agritech advocate and advisor, about how AI is transforming the agricultural sector and driving innovation, productivity and sustainability on farms across New Zealand.

[01:34] Tom and Craig discuss how AI is actively being deployed across dairy, livestock, meat processing and horticulture operations in New Zealand. From Fonterra’s herd monitoring systems to quality control of kiwifruit at Zespri, AI is driving smarter farm management, boosting productivity, and delivering positive outcomes for fa...

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In this episode of the 2025 Litigation Forecast Podcast Series, Partner Andrew Horne, is joined by Senior Associate Hannah Jaques. They discuss the significant changes coming to the insurance industry as a result of the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024. The conversation covers the distinction between consumer and non-consumer insurance contracts, changes to the duty of disclosure, new remedies for breaches, and the impact on third-party claims.

[00:33] Andrew and Hannah begin by discussing the introduction of the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024. They highlight the two fundamental changes: the distinction between consumer and non-consumer...

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In this episode, of our special AI Impact series, Technology Partner Kate Cruickshank talks with Professor Albert Bifet, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Waikato, about how AI is reshaping the environmental sector.

[01:10] Kate and Albert discuss AI technologies already being used in the environmental sector, including deep learning models, computer vision, and real-time analytics and consider how these tools are boosting productivity, improving conservation efforts, and helping manage vast scientific datasets in this sector.

[03:27] Albert highlights the growing impact of AI innovations in areas...

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In this episode, Kate Cruickshank talks with Kieran Erasmuson, co-founder and COO of Script Sense about how AI is reshaping the healthcare sector.

[01:09] Kate and Kieran begin the episode discussing how AI is currently utilised in healthcare, aiding research, streamlining routine tasks and enhancing diagnostics by supporting GPs and specialists with predictive tools.

[03:04] Kieran highlights a standout AI innovation being adopted in healthcare practices across New Zealand: Heidi, which is an AI powered voice-to-text tool for medical use that enables clinicians to focus more on patient care and less...

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In this episode, of our special AI Impact series, Technology Partner Tom Maasland interviews Dr Geri Harris, Director of the Business Undergraduate Programme and a Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), about the transformative impact of AI on the education sector.

[01:17] Geri discusses how she integrates AI tools into her teaching practices, emphasising their efficiency and impact on both teaching and assessment. She highlights how AI can boost student engagement and interaction, and significantly reduce administrative workloads and assessment burdens, allowing educators to focus more time on teaching itself.<...