Legal Matters

12/05/2026

We announce the departure of Genevieve Maree from the firm. We are grateful for her contributions and the professionalism she brought to her role.

We wish her every success in her future endeavours and know she will go on to do great things.

Thank you Genevieve!

10/11/2025

This is a great question, and we get asked this a lot!

"When do I need to involve a lawyer when buying a house?"

So, we wrote down some straightforward tips about it, to save you the guesswork. 👇

🔗 https://www.legalmatters.nz/when-do-i-need-to-involve-a-lawyer-when-buying-a-house

And truly, don't be afraid to reach out. We don't charge you for the first call, and encourage you to ask for guidance as early as possible in the process.

If you’re buying (or selling) in Hawke’s Bay or anywhere in New Zealand, our friendly Napier team would love to help make the legal matters as stress-free and well-prepared as possible.

We hope the article is helpful!

04/02/2025

It's the new year, and it's time to take charge of your will!

People are often uncomfortable or even fearful about making a will - often procrastinating or avoiding doing it altogether, creating a messier problem down the line.

🌊 In this blog we're aiming to give you the education you need to take the next step.

Have a read and get in touch!

https://www.legalmatters.nz/why-do-i-need-to-take-action-on-getting-a-will

At Legal Matters in Napier we want to offer you the benefits of our experience, to help you and your family at key times in life.

06 835 1082
[email protected]
Level 1, 50 Dalton Street, Napier

22/12/2024

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from all of us at Legal Matters! ✨🎄
This festive season, we thank our clients for their trust and support. We hope you have a Christmas filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey this year. Here's to a bright and prosperous New Year ahead! 🥂🌟
From our team to you and yours, have a great break! 🎁🎅
Our offices are closed from 20th December reopening on 6th January 2025.

23/10/2024

🏠 Thinking of refinancing your mortgage? Perhaps to get a better deal with another bank, either on interest rates, your loan term or to take up an alluring cashback offer?

Before doing so it's important to understand how the legal process fits in, and what it all really means with the banks.

In this blog we cover this so that you have the education you need to take the next step.

➕ Legal Matters offers a fixed fee for a simple refinance, so there are no surprises on the legal bill either.

Have a read and feel free to get in touch!

Find out more about refinancing and what is involved.

10/06/2024

Hilden Law & Your Property Centre is now Legal Matters! 🌊

Same people, same ownership, but we felt it was time for us to better reflect our values.

Legal Matters is a representation of how we intend to serve you now and into the future. It is about helping with life's legal matters as you move through what are often major moments.

Inspired by the pāua and our native flora and fauna, our new brand is about simplicity as much as it is about the care we provide through our service. We love how it ties in with our sister brand Employment Matters too.

We hope you will remember us for all of your Legal Matters!

- Tara, Genevieve, Nigel and Fran
Legal Matters (previously Hilden Law & Your Property Centre), Hawke’s Bay

p.s. Thank you 543 Web Design for our new website (https://legalmatters.nz/), Electric Turtle Design for the lovely new logo, and InHouse Marketing + Sustainability. We are so pleased to have a new name and look to take us into the future.

14/03/2024

If you make a will it doesn’t usually mean you will immediately die as a result. 🎚 People are often uncomfortable or even fearful about making a will because they have to confront the fact that they will die one day. This means people often procrastinate or avoid doing it altogether.😏

However creating a will is an essential step in ensuring that your wishes are carried out after your passing as it ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes (perhaps to family, friends or charities), provides for your loved ones, minimises the chance of conflict or disagreement among your family members and simplifies the probate process for your heirs. It's an important aspect of comprehensive estate planning.👍👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

In addition to these advantages, once you have made a will you are likely to feel relief, empowerment and have peace of mind. 😊💃🕺

Seeking support from a legal professional can help you navigate the process and address any concerns you may have. 🤵‍♀️

Contact us today if you would like to talk about making a will or updating your existing will and we will be happy to help.📞☎️

13/02/2024

One year on from Cyclone Gabriel today. Thinking back on that dreadful day and of all of those still affected. . . Black and White for the Bay! (Not forgetting that it is also Valentine’s Day.)

15/12/2023

Wishing everyone a festive Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

13/11/2023

The Hawke's Bay Property Market is Showing Signs of Recovery! 📈

According to a recent CoreLogic NZ report, the housing market downturn in Hawke's Bay appears to be over. 🤞 The research revealed that property values have experienced a 2.7% increase in Hastings and a 0.7% increase in Napier over the past three months.

It's a mixed picture, but appears to be back on the upward trend overall.

The recovery in the Hawke's Bay market can be attributed to several factors, such as increased housing market confidence due to a shift in voting towards the centre-right and a record-high net migration rate, boosting property demand. Additionally, the strength of employment and the loosening of responsible lending rules and loan-to-value restrictions have also contributed to the turnaround.

Although it's still early days, experts are predicting that the recovery in the housing market may be more subdued compared to previous cycles due to high house prices and the unlikely prospect of further mortgage rate drops.

💡 If you're a first-home buyer you will still continue to play a significant role in the market, and for would-be property investors you may wish to enter or re-enter the market gradually with potential tax benefits in the future.

We'll be here if you wish to weigh up the pros and cons, and make any moves!

[email protected] or [email protected]
(06) 835 1082
Hilden Law & Your Property Centre, Hawke's Bay

Read the full Stuff article here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/300999532/downturn-over-heres-how-much-house-prices-really-fell