Faster consents have changed the process, but not the risk. Explore how New Zealand’s reformed overseas investment regime is operating in practice. Gain advanced guidance on consent pathways, application strategy, transaction timing and national interest risk, alongside sensitive land, post-consent compliance and enforcement issues.

Know where transactions can stall, where clients remain exposed and what your advice must address now.

Presenters

Glenn Shewan, Partner, Bell Gully
Glenn is a specialist competition, regulatory and overseas investment lawyer and has advised on some of New Zealand’s most significant competition law and Overseas Investment Office (OIO) matters in recent years. Glenn has practiced in a number of jurisdictions and has acted for leading corporate clients on major global transactions in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Europe. Glenn is part of Bell Gully’s competition and regulatory team, which has been ranked in Global Competition Review's GCR 100 as an elite practice (its highest ranking in New Zealand) for the past 16 years. He is both a director of the Competition Law and Policy Institute of New Zealand and a member of the OIO’s Legal Reference Group.


Tina Hwang, Director, Queen City Law
Tina Hwang is a Director at Queen City Law, where she leads the firm’s Property & Disputes Team. A former Convenor of The Law Association of New Zealand’s Property Law Committee, she continues to serve on its Property Law, Property Disputes and Civil Litigation Committees. Tina’s practice spans property, construction and litigation, supported by broad commercial and employment law experience. She regularly advises on some of New Zealand’s largest property development projects, combining transactional expertise with practical insight into disputes that can arise throughout a project’s lifecycle. Her construction practice encompasses both front-end contract advice and back-end dispute resolution, including adjudication, arbitration and litigation. Clients value her pragmatic, commercially focused approach and commitment to finding practical solutions that resolve disputes promptly and cost-effectively wherever possible. An experienced advocate, Tina regularly represents clients in the High Court and before other courts, tribunals, and authorities. She has acted in proceedings at all levels of the New Zealand courts, including matters before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. She is also regularly appointed as an independent expert to determine property and commercial disputes. Tina brings a pragmatic, commercially focused approach to both contentious and transactional matters. Her work ranges from complex property, construction, and commercial disputes to employment matters for employers and employees, helping clients navigate negotiation, mediation and litigation. A frequent conference chair and presenter, Tina speaks on property, construction, contract, and employment issues. She is a regular contributor to Builders & Contractors magazine and is frequently invited to address banks, real estate professionals and industry groups.


Christina Lefever, Principal, Lefever Law
Christina is the principal at Lefever Law, a commercial law firm specialising in overseas investment advice and applications. She has over 20 years of commercial law experience, including a comprehensive knowledge of the Overseas Investment Act and Regulations, and understands the practicalities associated with assessing the need for Overseas Investment Office (OIO) consent, the application process and the key issues clients face. Christina has advised on over 90 successful OIO applications (primarily for rural land acquisitions) and has engaged with the OIO in relation to several enforcement matters.  Christina is a member of the OIO’s Legal Reference Group – a group of experienced practitioners that liaises with the OIO on technical and administrative matters.