Owen Culliney Law - Hamilton

26/10/2026

Most parents want to treat their children equally. Most farms cannot be split equally and still work as a farm. That tension sits at the heart of almost every farm succession, and it is the single most common reason plans stall for years.

Take a dairy farm worth $6 million with $2 million of debt. There are three children. One has been working on the farm for 12 years. The other two left for careers in Auckland and Brisbane.

Divide the farm three ways and the farming child has to find $2.7 million to buy out their siblings, on top of the existing debt. No bank will lend that against a farm that size. The farm gets sold, and the child who stayed loses the business they have spent their working life building.

Click on the link to read our blog about this delicate subject!

https://oclaw.co.nz/blog/fair-isn-t-always-equal

20/10/2026

Which farm succession path are you on? 8 questions, 3 minutes. You'll get your answer straight away - no email required to see it.

There's no single right way to hand on a farm. But the path you're on determines what you need to do next, and the 2 main routes need completely different work. This tells you which one you're actually on, and what's missing.

Take the quiz!

There's no single right way to hand on a farm. But the path you're on determines what you need to do next, and the two main routes need completely different work. This tells you which one you're actually on, and what's missing.

20/10/2026

Somewhere in the Waikato tonight, a couple in their mid-60s will sit at the kitchen table after milking and not talk about the farm. They know they should. But it's a hard conversation to start.

They are far from alone. Rabobank's 2025 report, Changing of the Guard, found that around 17,320 New Zealand farm and orchard owners, more than half of the national total, will reach 65 within the next 10 years. The farming assets that will change hands over that decade are conservatively valued at $150 billion. It is the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth this country's agricultural sector has ever faced.

Read more in our blog here:
https://oclaw.co.nz/blog/the-150-billion-conversation-nobody-s-having

And then take our quiz to determine where your family is on the succession path:
https://oclaw.co.nz/farm-succession-planning

There's no single right way to hand on a farm. But the path you're on determines what you need to do next, and the two main routes need completely different work. This tells you which one you're actually on, and what's missing.

06/10/2026

Thinking about a spring move in Hamilton?

Let's talk conveyancing before the market gets busy. Link in bio to get in touch with OCLaw Hamilton.

29/09/2026

Meet the team who'll get your Hamilton move over the line.

Local, straightforward, and genuinely good at the fiddly stuff so you don't have to be.

24/09/2026

Last Saturday, Owen, Sharlene and Sheridan attended the Virtual Assistant Network New Zealand VA Awards. Owen has been a long-time judge and sponsor, so it was wonderful to be there to celebrate all the winners. And special congratulations to Briar Edwards who took home the Top Performing VA Team Member award! 👏👏👏

22/09/2026

Buying or selling in Hamilton this spring? 🌸

While you’re getting your pre-approval sorted, be sure to book your conveyancing lawyer in so they’re briefed and ready to go when you find a property to fall in love with.

Owen Culliney Law provides property, conveyancing and business legal advice from offices in Waihi and Hamilton. We’re a team of lawyers and legal experts who cut through the complexity, bringing clarity to both the human and legal sides of every case. Straightforward guidance, get in touch today.

21/09/2026

Owen has been coaching his eldest child's five-a-side soccer team ahead of their tournament held last weekend! The team's name? Minions and Gru! You can guess who was Gru! 😂

And thanks to the team at Glu Group for printing these tees! You couldn't miss the team on the pitch in bold yellow!

15/09/2026

Get in touch with our expert local conveyancing team. We'll take the hassle out of buying and selling 🤝

We’re a team of lawyers and legal experts who cut through the complexity, bringing clarity to both the human and legal sides of every case.

08/09/2026

Spring is here, and the property market is finally starting to wake up 🌸

Listings are climbing and confidence is rebuilding.

If you're planning a move this season, now's the time to get your legal ducks in a row.

OCLaw Hamilton makes settlement day simple.

We’re a team of lawyers and legal experts who cut through the complexity, bringing clarity to both the human and legal sides of every case.