Our fellow OWL, the esteemed Professor Nicola Peart of the Faculty of Law, University of Otago, presented the 21st Annual New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Commemorative Address at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Friday 8 September 2017. The Address was entitled “Property rights on death:  Policies in conflict”.  Professor Peart captivated the audience of more than 180 members of the profession and public with the evolution of property rights on death in New Zealand culminating in today’s piecemeal legislation.

The topic of the Address was very timely, given the review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 currently being undertaken by the Law Commission.  Professor Peart outlined efforts over many years to improve the law, which continue today with the review being carried out.

The OWLS committee were thrilled with the turnout which reiterates the high esteem within which Professor Peart is held within the New Zealand legal profession, and was pleased to host another extremely successful event with the help of our generous sponsors the New Zealand Law Foundation, the University of Otago Law Faculty, and the Williams Trust. The Address will be available on the OWLS website and the DVD recording will be available to watch on the New Zealand Law Foundation website <http://www.lawfoundation.org.nz/> for those who missed out. The Address will also be published in an upcoming issue of the Otago Law Review.