PORTIA: THE EVOLUTION OF LAW
  • Home
  • Prices
  • Services
    • Relationship Property
    • Care of Children
    • Divorce/Separation
    • Help with Family Violence
    • Protection Order Response
    • Immigration
    • 移民和簽證
    • 預立代理人委託書和遺囑
    • Employment
    • Contested Estates
    • Family Justice System
  • Career
  • Information
    • General Info
    • Ethical
    • Justice
    • Diversity
    • Te Ao Māori
    • History
    • News & Views >
      • Ukraine
  • Call us now!

Goodbye Addington… hello CBD!

17/1/2019

0 Comments

 

Rachel Black

Development Manager, Portia

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.
Picture
Portia’s new headquarters are on level 1 of the BNZ Centre, directly opposite Ballantynes on Cashel Street
A bigger office in a more centralised location plays a critical role in accomplishing that mission It will have better access and be easier to reach by public transport. We will also now be within walking distance of the court, which is an obvious bonus.

We’re looking forward to joining law firm Cavell Leitch in the space, upstairs. Also nearby are Wynn Williams, Lane Neave and Anderson Lloyd. Of course, with 11 lawyers (and ​growing) having the courthouse mere minutes away will save lots of time.
While our location will change, our values and passion for our work will not. We’re committed to maintaining the relationships we have formed. This new chapter in Portia’s story is exciting and we look forward to continuing our journey in a bright new space.
0 Comments

New law for domestic violence takes effect

7/1/2019

0 Comments

 

Erin Ebborn

Principal Lawyer/Rōia Aporei, Portia

​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 is a common means of assault in family relationships but has been difficult to distinguish under the Crimes Act. Under the new regime strangulation of a family member carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.
​
Within hours of the new legislation coming into force it was used to charge an Auckland man with​strangulation
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 
offending to have their Victim Video Statements played in court. Police no longer have to apply to court to have these interviews played on behalf of victims.
​
The larger Family Violence Act – an update to the Domestic Violence Act 1995 – will come into effect soon, and Portia plans to deliver public workshops on the new law throughout 2019.
0 Comments

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    November 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018

    RSS Feed

Click here to read our privacy policy
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Family violence is not OK
Picture
We Respect the Flag
Picture
  • Home
  • Prices
  • Services
    • Relationship Property
    • Care of Children
    • Divorce/Separation
    • Help with Family Violence
    • Protection Order Response
    • Immigration
    • 移民和簽證
    • 預立代理人委託書和遺囑
    • Employment
    • Contested Estates
    • Family Justice System
  • Career
  • Information
    • General Info
    • Ethical
    • Justice
    • Diversity
    • Te Ao Māori
    • History
    • News & Views >
      • Ukraine
  • Call us now!