Tania Goatley

What does the new medicinal cannabis scheme mean for New Zealand?

​​​​​​​​The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) and Misuse of Drugs (Prohibition on Utensils) Notice 2020 (the Notice) came into force on 1 April 2020, opening up new avenues for patients to access medicinal cannabis, and new opportunities for business.

COVID-19 Privacy in a pandemic

​​In an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic, the tension between the maintenance of personal privacy and the good of the collective can come to a head. Information can be key to ensuring issues are properly addressed, however it is important to ensure that individual privacy rights are respected.

COVID-19: Epidemic notice and emergency powers - what do they mean for businesses and employers?

​​The declaration of a State of National Emergency on 25 March 2020 and issuance of an epidemic notice on 24 March 2020 have opened up a wide range of additional powers for government to enforce the restrictions it will impose under COVID-19 Alert Level 4.

Further reform announced on unfair commercial practices and contract terms

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment recently announced its policy decisions regarding changes to the law on unfair commercial practices.

Privacy Bill faces clear path to law after second reading

A bill to mo​​dernise New Zealand’s privacy laws has finally concluded a protracted second reading and is now all but sure to be voted through to the final stage and pass into law without any major hurdles.

Data protection and real-time bidding technology: Is a crackdown by regulatory authorities imminent?

In July the Information Commissioner's Office releas​ed a re​port into real-time bidding and ad technologies.

Consultation announced on a proposed Medicinal Cannabis Scheme

​​​​​​​The Ministry of Health has announced it is consulting on a proposed Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.

Mandatory reporting requirements soften in Privacy Bill

The Privacy Bill began its second reading before parliament on Tuesday 18 June. The proposed legislation is set to reshape the privacy landscape and bring New Zealand in line with global trends.

A link tax in New Zealand?

​​​​​A controversial payment to publishers for content in Europe has implications for New Zealand – despite escaping mention in a recent paper that set out the key issues for review for our own copyright laws.

News media exemption under the Privacy Act: now a matter of "responsibility"?

The role of the news media as the "eyes and ears" of the public, and the corresponding right of such news media to be exempted from the Privacy Act 1993 (Privacy Act), is entrenched and well accepted. However, the extent to which the news media exemption applies to non-traditional forms of "news" pu

Ownership of information in the digital world - reforms to copyright law in Europe and New Zealand

​​The European Parliament recently voted in favour of the Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive ('Copyright Directive'), in a decision that has the potential to revolutionise the way copyright is treated on the internet.

Buckle up – the “Year of Privacy” begins

​​​​​​​​​​​​2019 is slated to be the “Year of Privacy” and the European GDPR regulators have wasted no time taking enforcement action under the GDPR with record fines.