An exciting piece of news: after six happy years in our Addington office Portia’s Christchurch branch will be relocating. From 15 January next year Portia’s mid-Canterbury operation will be based out of new and improved premises at the BNZ Centre, 111 Cashel Street.

This is something that has been in the works for a long time. We are ambitious in our vision for Portia. We want to grow and continue to provide excellent legal services to as many ​people as we can. We know that larger premises and a more central location will help us thrive.

It is our vision that every person in New Zealand has the ability to access a lawyer and the justice system.

​One million New Zealanders are directly affected by family violence and the Government is moving to strengthen legislation covering this.

The Family Violence Amendment Act came into effect this month. Strangulation, coerced marriage and assault on a person in a family relationship are now offences under the law.

strangulation after a family harm incident.

The changes, designed to help curb family violence, are part of the Family Violence (Amendment) Act. The legislation was passed unanimously last month. The maximum seven year sentence for strangulation reflects the seriousness of the offending.
The new legislation also allows victims of family violence offending