Turner Hopkins Law

27/10/2026

A little bit of life lately at Turner Hopkins 💚

A few moments from behind the green walls this month!

1. Kate Chivers and Michael Robinson attending the Andersen Global conference in Singapore, connecting with professionals from around the world.

2. Luis making sure his office lolly bowl is always fully stocked and keeping the rest of us fuelled! 🍬

3. A warm welcome to Darrell Enright, who joined us this month, bringing a wealth of experience in New Zealand immigration law.

4. The sun making an appearance in Takapuna, making lunchtime by the beach a 10/10 experience.

5. Plenty of coffees keeping us going as we head towards the end of the year. ☕

6. Some of our TH ladies taking part in Sunday's 10km Pink Ribbon Walk, raising funds to support breast cancer research and the important work being done here in New Zealand. 💗

7. Our Friday cheeseboards looking spectacular as always, thanks to Sue and Helen!

23/10/2026

What even is a Trust?

And is having a Will something you need to worry about in your 20's?

And just how creative can you get with your Will?

For our next episode of Before You Google It, we sat down with Samuel Ames, Partner in our Private Client Team, to ask him some basic questions about Trusts and Wills!

No scripts, no complicated legal jargon. Just a conversation about the things you probably should know but might not have thought to ask.

(This series provides general information only and isn't a substitute for legal advice specific to your circumstances.)

22/10/2026

Apparently, we might need to start testing whether migrants share New Zealand's values.

Sounds reasonable enough. Until someone asks the rather awkward question of what those values actually are, and who gets to decide.

Ask ten New Zealanders what it means to be a Kiwi and you'll probably get twelve different answers. We can't always agree on what constitutes a fair go, let alone a national identity.

Yet here we are, heading into another election, debating what people should believe before they're allowed to call New Zealand home. Meanwhile, thousands of New Zealanders are heading overseas. Presumably, they haven't left their Kiwi values at the departure gate.

There are legitimate reasons to expect migrants to respect our laws, understand our society and contribute to our communities. But there's a difference between sharing democratic principles and being expected to share the same opinions.

In our latest article, we take a look at the proposed Kiwi values statement, the political theatre surrounding immigration, and a question I think deserves considerably more attention.

Perhaps the real test isn't whether migrants share our values, but whether we're living up to them ourselves.

Interested to hear what others think. Who should decide what constitutes a New Zealand value?

Head to our website for the full article.

13/10/2026

The recent news that the United States is considering broadcasting an ex*****on by firing squad has understandably raised a few eyebrows around the world.

Here in New Zealand, we abolished the death penalty for murder in 1961, and as far as political theatre goes, ours is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

We have our issues, of course. Our housing is considered expensive by some, our infrastructure could use some attention, and we occasionally treat a change in the weather as a national emergency (although admittedly there have been a few weather related emergencies). However there are some things we're quite comfortable leaving in the past.

For Americans who are increasingly questioning the direction their country is heading, where major policy decisions usually play out on X or Facebook, New Zealand may offer an appealing alternative and it has been exactly that for plenty already.

One couple from California, who approached me not long after the 2024 US elections, emailed yesterday to exclaim how quickly time has gone by as they round the bend, on their first two years as resident visa holders.

Were not suggesting that moving halfway around the world is a simple solution to political frustration though, because immigration involves real decisions about careers, family, finances and the sort of future you want to build.

However if you have been thinking about making a move, perhaps its worth finding out whether New Zealand could be an option.

There are immigration pathways for suitably qualified professionals, skilled workers, businesspeople and investors, as well as options to reunite family members.

The key is understanding which options might actually be available to you and at Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists, we help people navigate those decisions and understand what it takes to make New Zealand home.

The world is a big scary place, but its not so frightening when you realise, you do have options. Get in touch if you would like to explore yours.

Web: www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz

Email: [email protected] | [email protected]

Phone: +6494869574

08/10/2026

Dear Minister, whoever you might be after the November election, I have a small request. Well, actually, it's quite a big one.

Immigration policy has become increasingly tied to election cycles, political priorities and short-term thinking. Yet the decisions we make about who can come to New Zealand, who can stay and what skills we value have consequences that extend well beyond voting day.

As a country, we need to collectively ask ourselves whether the criteria we use to select migrants - particularly wages and qualifications - are actually identifying the people New Zealand needs, or simply those who fit neatly into an administrative framework.

In this week's article, I've written an open letter to whoever takes on the Immigration portfolio after the election. It's not a plea to stop changing immigration policy. Sometimes change is absolutely necessary.

It's a request to start making those changes with a much longer-term view.

Because a country can't build a ten-year immigration strategy if it keeps starting again every three years.

https://www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz/news/dear-minister

Dear Future Minister of Immigration I do not know who you are yet. You may be the current Minister, still occupying the office after November election or you may be her replacement. You may come from National, Labour, ACT, New Zealand First, the Greens, or whoever else might end up in the political

06/10/2026

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LAWYER!

Today we had Nicholas Qin, Year 13 student and President and Founder of the Westlake Boys High School Law Society come in and shadow one of our senior litigation solicitors Luis Paulo Santana De Mattos, for the day.

Mentoring is something Luis is genuinely passionate about, both inside and outside the office. Alongside his work in our litigation team, Luis coaches' volleyball and enjoys helping young people develop their skills, confidence and direction.

It’s always great to be able to give the next generation a glimpse into the profession, including the parts you don’t see on Suits.

Thanks for spending the day with us Nicholas! 😁

05/10/2026

On Saturday, 26 September, Olga Pelevina joined members of Auckland’s Russian-speaking community in Takapuna for an afternoon focused on navigating the process of buying and selling property in New Zealand.

The seminar brought together professionals from across the property journey, including Nick Poletaev from Harcourts New Zealand, Everglow Finance, a building inspector and an interior designer.

From KiwiSaver and deposits to building inspections, vendor warranties, financing and preparing a property for sale, each speaker brought a different perspective to the conversation with one shared goal: helping buyers and sellers better understand the process and the risks involved.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us, and to each of the speakers who shared their time, knowledge, and practical advice.

We’re proud to support our communities with legal advice that is practical, accessible, and easy to understand.

For property advice, get in touch with Olga Pelevina, Senior Associate at Turner Hopkins.

04/10/2026

RECENTLY AT TURNER HOPKINS 💚

Just a little of life behind the green walls at Turner Hopkins!

1. We hosted a quiz night! You can tell it was a good one by the smiles on everyone’s faces. 🧠

2. Daylight saving has officially started, which makes us even more grateful to have Takapuna Beach right on our doorstep. 🌞

3. A HUGE happy birthday to our one and only Paul Janssen, our brilliant Immigration Manager! We’re incredibly grateful for everything Paul does and all that he brings to TH. 🎂

4. Our Social Club recently organised a cooking class for the team. Safe to say we left feeling educated… and VERY full. 👩‍🍳

5. With the sun slowly making its return, so is deck season! The summer furniture is officially out, and Penny is clearly pretty pleased about it. ☀️

6. A brilliant achievement from Luis Paulo Santana De Mattos last week, winning his first Court of Appeal case! GO LUIS🥂

7. A bit of socialising with our building neighbours. Always a pleasure and, apparently, always plenty of smiles!

8. And, as always… lots and lots of team lunches.

01/10/2026

Life moves fast. Has your will kept up?

Buying a home, getting married, having children, or starting a business are all significant life moments. A lot can change between writing a will and actually needing it.

We’ve put together a few of those moments that might be a good reminder to check whether your will still reflects where you’re at today.

Before you Google it, talk to someone who deals with this every day. Our experts Samuel Ames, John Stirling, and Kate Chivers are here to help.

Still have questions? Good, we asked Samuel a few. More on wills coming soon!

Email: [email protected]

25/09/2026

Great to see our very own Luis Paulo Santana Mattos featured by LexisNexis New Zealand! 👏

Luis recently shared his experience using Protégé™, LexisNexis’ AI-powered legal technology, describing it as “very comprehensive” and highlighting the accuracy and simplicity of the platform.

It’s great to see one of our team contributing to the conversation around emerging legal technology and how it can support the delivery of legal services.

Well done, Luis! Link to explore here: https://lnkd.in/e7DiceWg