Northland's largest law firm WRMK Lawyers has opened a branch in Warkworth and appointed Patrick Steuart as its director.
The Warkworth office opened in the new Oaks development last week and the team includes Warkworth locals Julia Ingham (nee Lockwood) as seniorlawyer and Vicki Saunders, legal executive.
Steuart has many years of general legal experience includes advising clients on buying and selling homes and businesses, subdivisions, commercial leases, structuring commercial entities and forming and running family trusts.
The Warkworth office adds to WRMK Lawyers' reach across Northland with branches already in Kerikeri, Whangārei and Dargaville.
"We are delighted to welcome Patrick onto our board of directors. He brings with him significant legal expertise and experience, and enthusiasm and drive to help Warkworth's people and businesses,'' managing director Wayne McKean said.
WRMK Lawyers, previously known as Webb Ross McNab Kilpatrick, has a long history dating back to the 1930s. The company has nine directors, 21 lawyers, eight legal executives and other support people.
Northland businessmen Ken Rintoul and Bruce Mathieson have been re-appointed for a four-year term on the Top Energy Consumer Trust after both retired in March as required by the trust's rotation rules.
Earthworks under way at the site of the geothermal power station expansion at Ngawha. Photo/File
Rintoul had completed a four-year appointment while Mathieson had been appointed mid-term to fill a vacancy.
Their reappointment provides ongoing continuity during the major expansion of the Ngawha Geothermal Power Station, trust chairwoman Yvonne Sharp said.
"Both trustees were involved in considering the $182m major transaction application by Top Energy Limited to the trust, as shareholder,'' she said.
"The Ngawha Geothermal Power Station is one of the largest construction projects to be undertaken in Northland. Continuity of members of the trust is very appropriate and helpful while the expansion is under way.''
Drilling of the production and re-injection wells has been completed. Civil works are still under way and the site will be handed over for plant construction in July. The expanded power station will be commissioned in 2021.
The appointment of trustees is made by a selection panel of two local MPs, Matt King and Kelvin Davis, and Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd. They select the trustees from a short list prepared by an independent personal consultant.
The other three trustees are Yvonne Sharp, Ann Court and Hugh Ammundsen, who all retire on March 31 next year.
strong>Bridges: Tax will hit 20,844 Northland businesses
Labour's proposed Capital Gains Tax would punish more than 20,000 Northland businesses, discourage start-ups and apply to 44,283 properties in the region which are over 4500 square metres.
That is according to Opposition leader Simon Bridges.
Simon Bridges, National Party leader and Leader of the Opposition. Photo/File
"The Tax Working Group's proposed Capital Gains Tax would punish and deter Kiwis starting a business and those near retirement who want to sell up and realise their nest egg. In between they would be hit with more costs like thousands of dollars for valuations,'' Bridges said.
"We're a nation of small businesses and some will become tomorrow's major companies. A Capital Gains Tax puts road blocks in the way of our start-ups and would chase our best and brightest overseas. It is the last thing our economy needs.
"There are 20,844 businesses in Northland [and] the vast majority are smaller firms. "We shouldn't discourage start-ups that want to grow and create more jobs. Their successes lift the prospects for all our communities. This would be a tax on entrepreneurs, innovators and all those willing to take a risk to build something bigger than themselves.''
Bridges said the National party would fight the Government's proposed ''tax grab every step of the way.''
He said National would repeal a Capital Gains Tax and would not introduce any new taxes in its first term, if elected.
