Conference Agenda
In Person and Livestream
In Person
Only
8:15am – 8:45am
Registration, Coffee & Pastries
Conference Sessions
8:45am – 8:50am
Opening by Chair
Catherine Stewart
8:50am – 9:35am
Then and Now: Marking 25 Years of the Employment Relations Act
What’s changed and what might the next quarter century bring?
Her Honour Chief Judge Inglis
9:35am – 9:55am
Update from Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Hon Brooke van Velden
In this session, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety will provide an update on her ministerial priorities and the progress made so far, as well as insights into what is in the pipeline.
Hon Brooke van Velden
9:55am – 10:30am
Legislative Update: Acts, Bills and Reforms
Employment law is dynamic. Stay ahead of the curve with this session unpacking the latest legislative developments in employment law. From newly enacted legislation to pending Bills and proposed reforms, the key changes that are impacting and will impact New Zealand workplaces will be explored. Key topics include the proposed gateway test, high-income threshold, accountability in assessing remedies, the 30-day rule, pay equity, partial strikes, wage theft, remuneration disclosure, termination by agreement and Holidays Act reform. Join this session for an assessment of the pressure points of these changes and their practical implications.
Simon Schofield
10:30am – 10:55am
Morning Break
10:55am – 11:45am
Privacy at Work: Navigating Legal and Policy Shifts
As privacy law evolves, the workplace is increasingly in the spotlight. In this session, Riki Jamieson-Smyth from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner will outline key developments and policy changes in the privacy space, while employment lawyer William Fussey explores their implications for employers and employees alike. From biometric data to recent case law, the presenters will unpack how privacy law intersects with employment practice, and what it could mean for your clients or organisation.
William Fussey, Riki Jamieson-Smyth
11:45am – 12:35pm
Privacy Versus the Principle of Open Justice
Join leading counsel from MW v Spiga Ltd as she unpacks the tension between privacy and open justice. In this lively session, Kathryn will present the contrasting positions on non-publication orders. The session will prompt critical thinking about how these arguments apply in practice, and where potential grey areas may lead future case law.
Kathryn Dalziel
12:35pm – 1:30pm
Recent Decisions Shaping Employment Law
This session offers a practical overview of recent employment case law, highlighting key judicial developments and emerging trends. It will explore decisions of significance across a range of workplace issues. With the legal landscape continuing to evolve, this update will provide valuable insights to help practitioners navigate current and future challenges.
Charlotte Parkhill
1:30pm – 1:35pm
Giveaways for Livestream & In-Person
1:35pm – 2:35pm
Lunch Break
2:35pm – 3:20pm
Spotlight Session A – Independent External Investigations
With a rise in external investigations and recent case law refining the trigger points, when should you investigate internally, and when should you call in outside help? This session tackles the practical realities: managing bias concerns, defining terms of reference, and avoiding common missteps. During this session, our expert presenters will share real-world insights to help you guide clients through complex and high-stakes processes.
Sophie Gladwell, Margaret Robins, Sally Scovell
Spotlight Session B – When Immigration Meets Employment Law
Advising on employment issues involving migrant workers requires navigating overlapping legal frameworks. The stakes can be high for the parties, with employees often facing removal from New Zealand, and employers facing potential criminal as well as civil liability. In this session, the presenters will unpack real-world case scenarios covering recruitment, varying conditions of work, termination, and exploitation claims. Attendees will be given practical guidance on advising migrant workers facing job loss or underpayment, and on helping employers manage compliance, and respond to claims, as well as an update on recent legislative and case law developments.
David Fleming, Tim Gray, Deborah Manning
3:25pm – 4:15pm
Dismissals and High Earners: What’s Changing, and What we Can Learn from Australia
With changes on the horizon for the dismissal process of high-income employees in New Zealand, this timely session offers a comparative perspective. Chris Bell, will outline how similar rules are already operating across the Tasman, and what lessons New Zealand employers and practitioners can take from their implementation. Offering insights into the legal framework, practical implications, and potential challenges, this session provides a forward look at what may lie ahead as New Zealand’s legal landscape moves toward similar reform.
Chris Bell
4:15pm – 5:10pm
Generative AI at Work (Panel Discussion)
Generative AI is raising new questions for employment law, from the accuracy and use of AI tools to broader issues of responsibility and regulation. This session will consider recent developments, including court guidance and emerging case law, and explore how AI may shape the future of work and legal practice in Aotearoa.
Chantal McNaught (Moderator), Edwin Lim, Josh McBride, Jin Park
5:10pm – 5:15pm
Closing by Chair and TLANZ President
Catherine Stewart, Tony Herring
5:15pm – 6:45pm
Networking Refreshments & Canapés
An opportunity to further engage with peers and presenters during the networking session, which leads into the evening dinner (for those who have booked).
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