2024 Essay Prize Competition

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Society of Construction Law Essay Prize Competition 2024

 

First Prize: $4,000 Second Prize $2,000

The SCL New Zealand’s essay prize is modelled on essay prizes offered by other Societies of Construction Law, such as the Hudson Prize offered by the UK Society.
The competition is designed to encourage an interest in construction law amongst undergraduate or recently graduated students and is open to those who have graduated within the last 5 years.

Eligibility

Entry is available to persons who have an interest in construction law and as at 31 October 2023 were New Zealand residents and:

 were undergraduate students at a tertiary institution in New Zealand, or
 had graduated from any tertiary institution with their first degree or diploma within the previous five years.

Essays have to be a maximum of 5000 words with an emphasis placed on contribution to the study or practice of construction law or to the application of construction law in the industry.
 

 

2024 Call for Entries now closed

 

Dates to Watch

entry now closed
27 November 2023 approval (or otherwise) of topics and eligibility
2 April 2024 Essays to be received
June/July 2024 Prize Winners announced (at AGM or annual dinner)

 

Essay Documents

Conditions of entry and all competition information

 

 

Congratulations to our 2023 winners George Sabonadière and Oscar Ji who presented their essays during August.  Visit our members only area for their essays and presentations

Previous years' winning essays published in Members Only Area

Most recent meetings

November 2023

Under Water - A case study on the relationship between the CCA and insolvency processes

(photo: L to R)

Sam Holden (Chapman Tripp) in discussion with Brendon Gibson (Calibre) and Michael Harper (Chapman Tripp)

presentation slides posted to members only area

Flyer introducing our presenters and further insight into their discussion

October 2023

The Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act 2023 – are you ready?

Peter Degerholm

Unfortunately due to unforeseeen circumstances we were not able to host this meeting. However, thank you to NZIQS who have shared their recording of Peter's presentation with us.

Click here to watch NZIQS recording (you will need to ‘register’ to watch – this will pop up as you press play, all that is needed is name and address then you can view the NZIQS webinar)

Recording also posted to Members Only Area

ABOUT THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY OF CONSTRUCTION LAW

The New Zealand Society of Construction Law was formed in 2005 to promote research and education in the field of construction law and a means by which people from throughout the industry could come together to discuss issues relating to construction law.

The Society has over 900 members from all sectors of the construction industry, including:
 
  • lawyers
  • architects
  • engineers
  • quantity surveyors
  • contractors
  • project managers
  • insurers
  • academics

BRANCH MEETINGS

The Society meets regularly for presentations by speakers, and these meetings also provide an opportunity for informal networking. Meetings are usually held monthly in:
 
  • Auckland
  • Wellington
  • Christchurch
with one of the sessions being livestreamed.  We usually host 'in-person hubs' in Hamilton and Queenstown for members to have the opportunity to network. We endeavour to a host a meeting in Hamilton and Dunedin during the year if possible.

There is no cost to members to attend these meetings. 

Copies of presentations, papers and some recorded sessions presented at these meetings are available to members in the 'Members Only' section of the website.

Upcoming SCL(NZ) meetings

15 February 2024

Auckland reimagined end of year - welcome to 2024!

pub quiz at The Paddington

register here  |  flyer

 

February 2024

NZS3910:2023 panel discussion on its implementation

a summary of the key changes, and how it may change construction contracting practices in NZ

Lauren Whitehead, Dr Naseem Ameer Ali, Paul O'Brien

27 Christchurch, Anderson Lloyd
28 Wellington – Dentons
29 Auckland – Dentons
29 livestream - Dentons
Flyer and registration open in 2024

 

 

March 2024

Temporary disconformity unpacked – when is a defect not a defect?

Matt Maling and Hayden Struthers

19 Christchurch – Lane Neave
20 Wellington - Lane Neave tbc
21 Auckland - Lane Neave

Now in Members Only Area

November

Under Water - A case study on the relationship between the CCA and insolvency processes

Sam Holden (Chapman Tripp) in discussion with Brendon Gibson (Calibre) and Michael Harper (Chapman Tripp)

Recording and slides will be posted to members only area upon receipt

 

October 2023

The New CCA Retention Regime

Peter Degerholm

The Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act 2023– are you ready?

Unfortunately due to unforeseeen circumstances we were not able to host this meeting.
Thank you to NZIQS who have shared their recording of Peter's presentation with us.

NZIQS Presentation now in Members Only Area

 

September

construction caselaw / construction law development

Stuart Robertson, Brendan Cash and Christine Gordon

presentation and recording in Members Only Area

 

August

2023 essay prize winners present their essays

FIRST PRIZE

George Sabonadière

Regulation and the Race for Robots - Opportunities and regulatory challenges in adopting smart construction robots in New Zealand

SECOND PRIZE

Oscar Ji

Inflation in the construction industry: is a cost fluctuation clause the right solution?

Flyer introducing our speakers and their presentations

essay and presentations in members only area

 

July

EtC Panel (Engineer to the Contract)

Mark Cubey (EtC Executive Officer)

Recording in members only area

 

June 2023 - SCL Conference

From Surviving to Thriving

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre

visit Members Only Area for conference information

 

May

The Working Day rate in NZS Contracts - is it working?

Graham Topp, Director, GTQ Expert Services, James Lyall of Lyall Hamson, Nick Gillies of Hesketh Henry

introducing our speakers |  Recording, CPD Attendance in Members Only Area

 

April

Insurability issues in consultancy contracts – what’s all the fuss?

Consultants often object to contract terms that are “uninsurable”.  But what does that mean?  Our panellists come from different sectors of the construction industry and will explore the types of clauses that might raise insurability issues in consultancy agreements and why it matters.

introducing our panel | Recording, CPD Attendance in Members Only Area

 

March

The CCA turns 20!

John Green and Catherine Green from the Building Disputes Tribunal

To mark the 20th anniversary of the CCA coming into force on 1 April 2023, John and Catherine shared their experiences, statistics, learnings, and observations gained through their roles as adjudicators and as an ANA involving the administration of thousands of adjudication cases over the past 20 years. 
Presentation, Recording, CPD Attendance in Members Only Area

 

February 2023

Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove MSE, RML and Mark Colthart (Fortyeight Shortland Chambers)

discussed identifying areas where NZ legislation doesn’t stack up well when compared with international best practice

Presentation, Paper, Recording, CPD Attendance in Members Only Area

 

2022 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

2021 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

2020 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

2019 Members Only Area for meetings and presentations

 

Congratulations 2022 Essay Prize Winners

 

First Prize - Chante Fourie

I See a Red Door and I Want it Painted Black

 

Second Prize - George Sabonadière

The Missing Piece?  The case for mandating Dispute Resolution Boards for major public infrastructure projects in New Zealand

 

Recommended for Publication: (no order)

 

Oscar Ji

Delay liquidated damages post-termination: orthodoxy as the blueprint for New Zealand? 

 

Jaime Laing

The Future Of Force Majeure:  When Climate-Related Disasters No Longer Count

 

Lydia Sharpe

reclaiming the future:  The construction industry and New Zealand’s fulfilment of its Obligations under international climate change law

Essays published in Members Only Area

New Members Welcome

The Society welcomes new members

Anyone with a strong interest in construction law is invited to apply for membership.

 

2022/23 subscription rates (GST inclusive):

$143.75  individual or less than 3 in company
$115.00 for 3 or more in same company

Membership Application Form

 

 

New SCL(Intl) papers are continuall added to the SCL International website

SLC(NZ) members can access these papers on the SCL(Intl) website

 

Need help accessing the members area of SLC(Intl)? 

Contact SCL(NZ) Manager Melanie Whittaker

 

WORLDWIDE CONNECTIONS

The New Zealand Society maintains ties with its sister societies in other parts of the world so that members are kept up-to-date about news and upcoming events in the construction industry in those jurisdictions.

New Zealand members have access to papers published on the SCL(International) website.

2019 SCL Fundamentals of Construction Law – the project lifecycle Conference

2019 conference delegates

2017 SCL Wellington Transmission Gully site tour

Transmission Gully site visit 

2015 Christchurch Key Projects in the Christchurch City Rebuild tour

Christchurch Town Hall site visit 

 

2019 conference delegates

2017 SCL Wellington Transmission Gully site tour

Transmission Gully site visit 

SCL 2015 Christchurch city tour participants

The Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct site visit

SCL(NZ) HOSTS A BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

 

2021: SCL(NZ) was proud to host the 9th International Society of Construction Law 'Building for Change' Conference

4-5 November 2021

Virtual (due to Covid-19 restrictions international and domestic NZ travel was prohibited), Auckland, New Zealand

9th International Conference Papers and recording

 

2019: Fundamentals of Construction Law – the project lifecycle - Auckland conference papers

23 July 2019 (preceded by SCL AGM)

Level 5 Lounge, North Stand, Eden Park, Auckland.

This conference covered themed project lifecycle stages of a construction project, from procurement, insurance, performance, to termination and resolving disputes.

2017: Identifying and Managing Obligations, Wellington - Wellington conference papers

15 June 2017: Site Tour - Transmission Gully

16 June 2017:  Conference at Te Papa, Wellington (keynote Richard Wilmot-Smith QC of 39 Essex Chambers, London)

2015 : Best Practice Procurement and Contracting in NZ Construction & Infrastructure - Christchurch conference papers

13 August 2015 : City Tour- Key Projects in the Christchurch City Rebuild (photos above)

14 August 2015 : Conference at The Chateau on the Park (photos below)

2014 : When the Contract Gets Dirty – applying the contract to on-site reality - Auckland conference papers

2012 : Construction Law Core Skills Seminar, Fundamental Topics in Construction Law presented by Leading Industry Practitioners - Auckland conference papers

 

2019 SCL Fundamentals of Construction Law – the project lifecycle Conference - Auckland

2017 Identifying and Managing Obligations - Wellington

2015 Best Practice Procurement and Contracting in NZ Construction & Infrastructure Conference - Christchurch