Most recent meetings

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March 2024

Temporary disconformity unpacked – when is a defect not a breach?

(photo Wgtn meeting 20March2024: L to R)

Matt Maling standing, Hayden Struthers left profile to camera far right

presentation slides and recording (courtesy Lane Neave) posted to members only area

CPD attendance record sheets posted to members only area

Flyer introducing Matt and Hayden and their discussion

February 2024

panel discussion on the new form of contract NZS3910:2023

(photo courtesy Anderson Lloyd Chch: L to R)

Steve O’Dea (moderator) Lauren Whitehead, Paul O’Brien and Dr Naseem Ameer Ali. (ack John Hemi Wgtn panellist)

presentation slides and recording (courtesy Dentons) posted to members only area

Flyer introducing our panellists and discussion Wgtn Flyer

ABOUT THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY OF CONSTRUCTION LAW

The New Zealand Society of Construction Law was formed in 2005 to promote research and education in the field of construction law and a means by which people from throughout the industry could come together to discuss issues relating to construction law.

The Society reached the milestone of having 1000 members in November 2023 heralding from all sectors of the construction industry, including:
 
  • lawyers
  • architects
  • engineers
  • quantity surveyors
  • contractors
  • project managers
  • insurers
  • academics

BRANCH MEETINGS

The Society meets regularly for presentations by speakers, and these meetings also provide an opportunity for informal networking. Meetings are usually held monthly in:
 
  • Auckland
  • Wellington
  • Christchurch
with one of the sessions being livestreamed.  We usually host 'in-person hubs' in Hamilton, Dunedin and Queenstown for members to have the opportunity to network. We endeavour to a host an in-person meeting in Hamilton and Dunedin during the year if possible.

There is no cost to members to attend these meetings. 

Copies of presentations, papers and the recorded sessions presented at these meetings are available to members in the 'Members Only' section of the website.

2024 Essay Prize Competition

Society of Construction Law Essay Prize Competition 2024

 

First Prize: $4,000 Second Prize $2,000

The SCL New Zealand’s essay prize is modelled on essay prizes offered by other Societies of Construction Law, such as the Hudson Prize offered by the UK Society.
The competition is designed to encourage an interest in construction law amongst undergraduate or recently graduated students and is open to those who have graduated within the last 5 years.

Eligibility

Entry is available to persons who have an interest in construction law and as at 31 October 2023 were New Zealand residents and:

 were undergraduate students at a tertiary institution in New Zealand, or
 had graduated from any tertiary institution with their first degree or diploma within the previous five years.

Essays have to be a maximum of 5000 words with an emphasis placed on contribution to the study or practice of construction law or to the application of construction law in the industry.
 

 

2024 Call for Entries now closed

 

Dates to Watch

entry now closed
2 April 2024 Essays to be received
June/July 2024 Prize Winners announced (at AGM or annual dinner)

 

Essay Documents

Conditions of entry and all competition information

 

 

Congratulations to our 2023 winners George Sabonadière and Oscar Ji who presented their essays during August.  Visit our members only area for their essays and presentations

Previous years' winning essays published in Members Only Area

Upcoming SCL(NZ) meetings

10 April 2024

Lunchtime webinar 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Construction Law Caselaw Updates

Join Polly Pope, Simon Zhao and Daniel Maier-Gant

as they discuss caselaw which covers various aspects of construction law

Register here

Download Flyer

Now in Members Only Area

March 2024

Temporary disconformity unpacked – when is a defect not a defect?

Matt Maling and Hayden Struthers

Flyer introducing our speakers and their topic

Livestream recording (courtesy Lane Neave) and presentation, CPD attendance sheets now in members only area

 

 

February 2024

NZS3910:2023 panel discussion on its implementation

a summary of the key changes, and how it may change construction contracting practices in NZ

Lauren Whitehead, Dr Naseem Ameer Ali, Paul O'Brien & John Hemi 

Flyer introducing our panellists and discussion Wgtn Flyer

Livestream recording (courtesy Dentons), presentation and CPD record sheets now in members only area

 

2023 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

2022 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

2021 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

2020 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

2019 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

 

Congratulations 2023 Essay Prize Winners

 

First Prize - George Sabonadière

Regulation and the Race for Robots - Opportunities and regulatory challenges in adopting smart construction robots in New Zealand

 

Second Prize - Oscar Ji

Inflation in the construction industry: is a cost fluctuation clause the right solution?

 

Essays published in Members Only Area

New Members Welcome

The Society welcomes new members

Anyone with a strong interest in construction law is invited to apply for membership.

 

2022/23 subscription rates (GST inclusive):

$143.75  individual or less than 3 in company
$115.00 for 3 or more in same company

Membership Application Form

 

 

New SCL(Intl) papers are continuall added to the SCL International website

SLC(NZ) members can access these papers on the SCL(Intl) website

 

Need help accessing the members area of SLC(Intl)? 

Contact SCL(NZ) Manager Melanie Whittaker

 

WORLDWIDE CONNECTIONS

The New Zealand Society maintains ties with its sister societies in other parts of the world so that members are kept up-to-date about news and upcoming events in the construction industry in those jurisdictions.

New Zealand members have access to papers published on the SCL(International) website.

2019 SCL Fundamentals of Construction Law – the project lifecycle Conference

2019 conference delegates

2017 SCL Wellington Transmission Gully site tour

Transmission Gully site visit 

2015 Christchurch Key Projects in the Christchurch City Rebuild tour

Christchurch Town Hall site visit 

 

2019 conference delegates

2017 SCL Wellington Transmission Gully site tour

Transmission Gully site visit 

SCL 2015 Christchurch city tour participants

The Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct site visit

SCL(NZ) HOSTS A BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

 

2021: SCL(NZ) was proud to host the 9th International Society of Construction Law 'Building for Change' Conference

4-5 November 2021

Virtual (due to Covid-19 restrictions international and domestic NZ travel was prohibited), Auckland, New Zealand

9th International Conference Papers and recording

 

2019: Fundamentals of Construction Law – the project lifecycle - Auckland conference papers

23 July 2019 (preceded by SCL AGM)

Level 5 Lounge, North Stand, Eden Park, Auckland.

This conference covered themed project lifecycle stages of a construction project, from procurement, insurance, performance, to termination and resolving disputes.

2017: Identifying and Managing Obligations, Wellington - Wellington conference papers

15 June 2017: Site Tour - Transmission Gully

16 June 2017:  Conference at Te Papa, Wellington (keynote Richard Wilmot-Smith QC of 39 Essex Chambers, London)

2015 : Best Practice Procurement and Contracting in NZ Construction & Infrastructure - Christchurch conference papers

13 August 2015 : City Tour- Key Projects in the Christchurch City Rebuild (photos above)

14 August 2015 : Conference at The Chateau on the Park (photos below)

2014 : When the Contract Gets Dirty – applying the contract to on-site reality - Auckland conference papers

2012 : Construction Law Core Skills Seminar, Fundamental Topics in Construction Law presented by Leading Industry Practitioners - Auckland conference papers

 

2019 SCL Fundamentals of Construction Law – the project lifecycle Conference - Auckland

2017 Identifying and Managing Obligations - Wellington

2015 Best Practice Procurement and Contracting in NZ Construction & Infrastructure Conference - Christchurch