Securities law reform

What's it about?

The Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (FMC Act), and its associated regulations, will replace the Securities Act 1978, Securities Markets Act 1988, and other legislation relating to the financial markets.

The first batch of regulations required for the FMC Act's implementation have now been made and published.

What's next?

The first phase of the FMC Act came into force on 1 April 2014.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) has published a revised timetable for the regulation making process under the FMC Act.

Officials intend to aggregate the different tranches of regulations that have been consulted on so far into one combined set of Financial Markets Conduct Regulations, with the goal being to make the regulations in October 2014, prior to full implementation of the legislation in December this year.

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Companies and limited partnerships rule changes

What's it about?

The Government has announced significant changes to the Companies Act 1993 and Limited Partnerships Act 2008 to strengthen the rules applying to the governance, registration and reconstruction of companies and the registration of limited partnerships.

What's next?

The amendments received the Royal Assent on 2 July 2014 as the Companies Amendment Act 2014 and the Limited Partnerships Amendment Act 2014.

At the date of publication a timetable for implementation has not been published, but both pieces of legislation provide for a one year "longstop" commencement date for bringing the amendments into force.

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Trusts

What's it about?

On 11 September 2013 the Law Commission released its report Review of the Law of Trusts.

The report recommends the passing of a new Trusts Act, to replace the current Trustee Act 1956.  The report recommends that the new Act should expressly set out trustees' duties, obligations regarding the provision of information to intermediaries, and rules regarding investment.

What's next?

Because Parliament will rise on 31 July 2014 prior to the General Election, we do not expect any legislation to be introduced. 

It will be necessary to assess the new Parliament's priorities to determine when any such legislation might be introduced.

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Cartel criminalisation

What's it about?

The Government has proposed criminalising 'hard-core' cartel conduct in New Zealand.

What's next?

The Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill commenced its Second Reading on 24 June 2014 but was interrupted and was Number 14 on the most recent Order Paper.

As noted above, Parliament will rise on 31 July 2014, and all business before the House will lapse as a matter of Parliamentary procedure.  As a matter of standard practice, however, we expect the new Parliament to roll over the "old" business when it convenes. 

In the meantime, the Commerce Commission will be consulting the market during August on its revised draft Competitor Collaboration Guidelines, which the Commission is preparing in anticipation of the Bill becoming law.

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Non-bank deposit takers

What's it about?

The Non-bank Deposit Takers Bill received the Royal Assent on 3 December 2013, becoming the Non-bank Deposit Takers Act 2013 (NBDT Act). 

The NBDT Act retains the existing prudential oversight regime for NBDTs (which is enforced by the Reserve Bank), and adds a licensing regime, with suitability requirements for directors and senior managers.

What's next?

The NBDT Act (other than a couple of provisions) came into force on 1 May 2014.

The coming into force of the NBDT Act will see a stand-alone regime for NBDTs, with a 12 month transitional period for these entities to adjust to the new requirements.

This regime may be subject to revision, depending on the outcome of the Reserve Bank's review of the NBDT sector.

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Credit laws

What's it about?

The Credit Contracts and Financial Services Law Reform Bill was introduced to strengthen and consolidate the suite of legislation that governs consumer credit contracts.

In particular, the Bill introduces responsible lending requirements to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (CCCFA), in addition to strengthening existing provisions so that borrowers are better informed and protected.

It was an omnibus bill, also containing amendments to the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008, but the two components were separated on 13 May 2014.

What's next?

The Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 received the Royal Assent on 6 June 2014.

Before the operational amendments in the legislation come into effect officials will prepare a Responsible Lending Code, setting out requirements and safe harbours for lenders.

Officials have published a discussion document seeking comments on the shape of the Code.  This document also includes an indicative timetable which suggests that the Code is to be finalised by March 2015.

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Financial service providers

What's it about?

The Credit Contracts and Financial Services Law Reform Bill also amends the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008, in order to prevent the misuse of our financial services registration scheme to give an appearance of credibility to overseas entities that do not properly undertake financial services business in this country.

What's next?

The Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Act 2014 was enacted on 6 June 2014.

The legislation mostly came into force on 1 July 2014, by operation of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Act 2014 Commencement Order 2014.

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Financial advisers

 What's it about?

The Financial Advisers Act 2008 (FA Act) has been amended to incorporate new obligations relating to the provision of broking services and, in particular, obligations relating to brokers who provide custodial services.  Regulations have also been published for the more substantial broker custody requirements.

What's next?

The amendments to the FA Act and the regulations published under the FA Act came into force on 1 April 2014.

The reporting obligations in the regulations will take effect on 1 December 2014.

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Anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism annual reports

What's it about?

Reporting entities are required to submit an AML/CFT Annual Report for the 12 month period from 1 July to 30 June. The first annual report will be due from 1 July 2014, and must be submitted by 30 August 2014 at the latest.

What's next?

On 10 April 2014 the three AML/CFT supervisors published a User Guide for AML/CFT Annual Reports, providing guidance for reporting entities on how to prepare their annual reports.

The supervisors also published several AML/CFT Sector Risk Assessment Guides, which provide guidance on the relevant money-laundering risks in various sectors.

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