Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Law definition

What does Law mean? In legal practice, Law describes the body of binding rules governing parties’ rights and obligations in the relevant jurisdiction(s). It is not a single statutory or case-law definition; in contracts it is a descriptive catch‑all used to capture all sources of applicable law. Law includes: (a) any primary or secondary legislation (including regulations, statutory instruments and byelaws) in force from time to time that applies to a party or to the place the Services are provided; (b) the common law and, where applicable, equity; (c) any binding court order, judgment or decree; (d) any applicable industry code,

Doing business in New Zealand: a legal guide to company formation, overseas investment, financing, property, immigration, employment, contracts, tax, competition, financial services, AML/CFT, IP and compliance

Published by a LexisNexis Commercial expert

Practice notes

Introduction

New Zealand operates a deregulated, decentralised economy, fully open to international competition. Over recent decades, successive governments have overhauled trade settings by removing many import barriers, winding up most subsidies, and shaping the rules on overseas investment to encourage productive foreign investment into New Zealand across the country over the same period accordingly.

The business environment

New Zealand is regularly internationally recognised by the World Bank and other organisations as among the world’s most business-friendly jurisdictions. In the World Bank’s Business Ready 2024 report it placed sixth for Operational Efficiency and Public Services, and Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 rated it the fourth least corrupt nation. New Zealand is an independent sovereign country within the British Commonwealth of Nations. Parliament is elected democratically every three years. The country has no single written constitution. Since 1993, elections have used a Mixed Member Proportional system, which typically produces coalition administrations led by either the National Party or the Labour Party. New Zealand is not a federal state. All Laws are enacted by a unicameral legislature, the House of Representatives, which is the nation’s supreme law-making authority. The country does not operate a federal system. There is no second legislative chamber...

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Angela Harford

Bell Gully

Angela is a corporate and commercial lawyer with specialist expertise in infrastructure, energy, major projects and significant public sector reform. She is known for her strategic thinking and ability to deliver on highly complex projects and transactions. Angela acts for a broad range of public and private sector clients on their highest profile and most complex commercial matters, including large-scale infrastructure projects, joint ventures, major procurement and tendering processes and regulatory reform. She has extensive experience in transport infrastructure, renewable and non-renewable energy (including power purchase agreements and electricity regulatory matters) social and economic infrastructure, public housing, defence and education.Angela has particular expertise in public private partnership (PPP) procurement. She is currently acting for the NZ Transport Agency on the Northland Corridor PPP project, one of the most significant infrastructure upgrade investments to be undertaken in New Zealand and also act for the Crown in...

Alex Bond

Bell Gully

Alex is a partner in Bell Gully’s market-leading Corporate team, with particular focus on mergers and acquisitions and private capital matters across a broad range of sectors. Alex assists corporates and investors on their most critical transactions, bringing an engaged and solution-orientated approach. Alex’s recent work highlights include advising Lactalis on its proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s global Consumer and associated businesses, Brookfield Asset Management on the sale of its 49.95% stake in One NZ (formerly Vodafone NZ) and One NZ on the sale of its passive mobile tower infrastructure assets (the business now known as Fortysouth). Alex started his career at Bell Gully and returned to the firm in 2020, after four years working in Freshfields' London and Paris offices. During his time at Freshfields, Alex also spent seven months seconded as legal counsel to international private equity firm Cinven in London. Alex won the...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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