Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is the world-class purpose-built venue for the SCL 2023 Conference. Centrally located in the city (within easy walking distance to accommodation options), opening to the river on one side and a central city park, there is plenty to do outside of the conference venue, but still appreciate the connection with nature. Diary the dates, plan to attend, learn, network and most of all have fun with colleagues within the construction law sector.
The Call for Abstracts is now closed. Please email Composition, SCL's Conference Organisers if you have any queries.
Registration opens April 2023 Plenary speakers will be announced in the upcoming months, be sure to check back or join our conference mailing list.
Programme We are planning an informative programme. To assist with your planning and booking your travel, a brief outline of each day is below:
Thursday 29 June Optional site tours SCL AGM (open to all members) in the late afternoon Annual Conference Dinner in the evening
Friday 30 June 2023 Full day conferencing, concluding at the end of the day.
Queries? please contact our conference organisers, Composition on scl@composition.co.nz
Winners will be announced at the SCL AGM 29 June 2023
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.
Previous years' winning essays published in Members Only Area
dissused cryptic limitation periods, no compulsory insurance, no proportionate liability and inadequate auditing powers.
Presentation, Paper and Recording in Members Only Area
dissused the interface and the nature between delay and disruption costs and the legal and factual basis for supporting these claims in a New Zealand context.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the CCA coming into force on 1 April 2023, John and Catherine will share 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.
Introducing our speakers
Register using links below
29 March Wellington 30 March Christchurch 3 April Auckland 3 April Hamilton hub 3 April livestream
See end of flyer how to register
26 April Christchurch
27 April Auckland with livestream
18 May Auckland with livestream
Swissotel The Bosphorus, Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey
Conference information, sponsorship opportunities and accommodation info
Visit conference website
updates will be posted here as received
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
Presentation, Recording & CPD Attendance in Members Only Area
discussed quantum meruits and important aspects of how the law of restitution may apply with respect to payment for building work undertaken in Australasia
Presentation & Paper, Recording & CPD Attendance in Members Only Area
research into the use of arbitration in New Zealand and implications for dispute resolution in the construction sector
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
I See a Red Door and I Want it Painted Black
The Missing Piece? The case for mandating Dispute Resolution Boards for major public infrastructure projects in New Zealand
Delay liquidated damages post-termination: orthodoxy as the blueprint for New Zealand?
The Future Of Force Majeure: When Climate-Related Disasters No Longer Count
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
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
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
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 conference delegates
Transmission Gully site visit
Christchurch Town Hall site visit
The Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct site visit
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