Natasha van der Wal
Partner
tel:+6479287097
mailto:natasha.vanderwal@hobec.co.nz
Qualifications
- LLB, BSc, University of Auckland 2007
- Admitted to the Bar in New Zealand 2009
Community Activity
- Trustee on House of Science New Zealand’s Board of Trustees
Contact
- DDI: +64 7 928 7097
- M: +64 21 855 458
- E: natasha.vanderwal@hobec.co.nz
Natasha van der Wal is a Partner at Holland Beckett and leads our Rotorua commercial and property team.
Natasha works closely with individuals, corporate entities, local governments, Māori land-owning entities and post settlement governance entities.
She provides advice on a range of legal issues working in property, commercial and asset planning including projects involving subdivisions and development, leasing and commercial contracts, Māori property interests, iwi social housing and papakainga. Natasha has appeared before the Māori Land Court on property related matters.
Outside of work Natasha enjoys travelling and making the most of the outdoor activities the Bay has to offer.
Natasha van der Wal's Expertise
Natasha van der Wal's News & Resources
Re-register it, before you re-gret it – why incorporated societies must act now
The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 represents a significant overhaul of the legal framework governing incorporated societies in New Zealand. The new Act introduces fresh governance standards, clearer responsibilities, and a modern framework designed to protect your society and its members.
With the re-registration deadline approaching, it\'s crucial for societies to understand the new requirements and take proactive steps to ensure compliance.
Failure to act now means there is a very real risk that your society will cease to exist come April 2026.
1. A new constitution
As a minimum requirement, most societies will need to adopt a new constitution in order to re-register. Societies are now required to have a constitution that complies with the new Act. This includes specifying the society’s purpose, membership criteria, dispute resolution processes, and procedures for general meetings and decision-making.
2. Re-registration
The new Act comes with a critical deadline: all existing incorporated societies must re-register by 5 April 2026.
Failure to do so will mean your society will cease to exist and there will be serious consequences, including:
The inability to deal with your society’s assets.
The inability for your society to operate.
Your members will lose the protection from personal liability offered by the 1908 Act, exposing them to potentially serious personal risk.
Jeopardizing existing arrangements and contracts with third parties, and risking your society’s reputation.
Re-registration isn’t just a formality - it’s a fresh start
Think of re-registration as hitting the reset button, while ensuring that your organization remains legally recognised and capable of continuing its work:
Stay in business: Re-registering guarantees your society’s ongoing ability to hold assets, enter contracts, and deliver on its purpose.
Embrace modern governance: The new law encourages transparent, accountable leadership. It’s an opportunity to review your rules, define officer duties more clearly, and adopt best practices.
Protect your officers: Officers will have new duties and liabilities - being prepared now can prevent future headaches.
Opportunities for growth: This is a perfect time to reassess your organisation’s goals and structure - perhaps an alternative structure, like a charitable trust, suits your organisation better.
How to re-register - and why it’s easier than you think
The government has simplified the process. A straightforward online form requires your society’s details - such as your new registration number, address, officer list, and updated constitution. It’s designed to be fee-free and accessible.
However, this isn’t just about ticking boxes. Your society’s name, purpose, or rules must meet specific requirements, and any non-compliance could cause delays or rejection. Starting the process early means fewer surprises and plenty of time to make necessary adjustments.
3. Other key steps your society should take now
Review your membership: The minimum number of members has been reduced from 15 to 10. Societies must maintain at least 10 members at all times, and each new member must consent in writing to join.
Assess committee and officer eligibility: Every society must have a committee of at least three officers. Officers must consent in writing and must not be disqualified (e.g. undischarged bankrupts or individuals convicted of serious offences). The Act codifies officer duties, including acting in good faith, exercising powers for proper purposes, and avoiding activities that could seriously harm creditors.
Prepare for financial reporting changes: Societies must prepare annual financial statements that comply with generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP). Larger societies must have their financial statements audited. A society is considered small and can continue its current reporting practices if it meets certain criteria, such as spending less than $50,000 in each of the two preceding financial years.
Implement dispute resolution procedures: Develop and document clear procedures for resolving disputes among members. The Act has minimum dispute resolution requirements which must be documented in the constitution and be consistent with the rules of natural justice.
Don’t leave your society’s future to chance - take action today!
The message is clear: act now before the April 2026 deadline. Re-registration is your guarantee that your society continues to serve its community and fulfil its mission.
How Holland Beckett can assist
Navigating the complexities of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 can be challenging. Our legal services are here to support your society through the re-registration process and beyond. We offer:
Constitution review and drafting: Ensuring your constitution complies with the new Act and reflects your society\'s needs.
Officer and committee guidance: Assisting in assessing eligibility and understanding duties under the new Act.
Financial reporting advice: Providing guidance on meeting new financial reporting and auditing requirements.
Dispute resolution strategy: Helping develop and implement effective dispute resolution procedures.
Contact us today to ensure your society remains compliant and continues to operate smoothly under the new legal framework.
Holland Beckett promotes two partners
Leading New Zealand law firm, Holland Beckett has announced the promotion to partnership of two of its senior lawyers, Will Dymock and Natasha van der Wal, effective from April 1st 2024.
The Bay of Plenty based firm has offices in Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatāne and Taupō, and advises local, national and international clients. With over 140 staff including over 70 lawyers, the full-service firm\'s specialist teams work collaboratively and cater to a vast range of legal matters, including property, trusts and estates, commercial, corporate, finance, employment, family, civil litigation, resource management and local government. Holland Beckett also has a specialised Māori Legal Unit.
“It is a pleasure to announce the promotion of Natasha and Will, both experts in their respective fields”, says Ken Hawkes, Partner at Holland Beckett. “These talented lawyers represent the diverse capabilities we have as a firm, and the growth and strength of our team. We look forward to expanding the partnership with their specialist expertise”.
The promotion of Will and Natasha expands the partnership to 16, which is testament to Holland Beckett’s reputation as a top tier legal employer, firmly focused on recruiting the best talent and developing the next generation of legal leaders. The firm has the most female partners of any law firm in the Bay of Plenty, growing from two to five women in the past seven years.
Will Dymock, Partner
Will advises clients on a wide range of finance, corporate, restructuring and commercial transactions.
Will has extensive international and domestic experience advising financial institutions and businesses (small and large) across a broad range of areas including asset finance, general corporate lending, property finance and corporate finance. Will specialises in aviation and asset finance and leasing where he advises international clients, including financial institutions, aircraft lessors, lessees / airlines and other aviation market participants, on a wide range of aviation financing, acquisitions and sales, leasing and lease restructuring.
Prior to joining Holland Beckett in 2021, he spent six years in Singapore where he worked for two leading international finance practices, most recently as a Senior Associate in the global asset finance team at Clifford Chance. Prior to Singapore, Will worked in a leading banking and finance practice in Auckland.
Natasha van der Wal, Partner
Natasha joined Holland Beckett as a Senior Solicitor in 2016. Natasha’s expertise is focused on property law, commercial law and Māori legal issues.
Natasha provides strategic and trusted advice on a broad range of property and commercial matters for individuals, corporate entities and local government. She has experience with complex property issues including subdivisions and development, the acquisition and disposal of residential, rural and commercial properties; and commercial leasing and licencing matters generally.
As part of the specialised Māori Legal Unit at Holland Beckett, Natasha provides advice on Māori legal issues for local government, individuals, Māori trusts, Māori incorporations and post settlement governance entities. She is experienced with Māori property matters such as partitions, large commercial developments, iwi social housing and Papakainga. She has appeared before the Māori Land Court on property related matters.
Outside of work, you’ll find Natasha supporting her children on the sidelines of their various sporting interests. She also promotes scientific literacy for children in New Zealand as a trustee of the House of Science NZ Charitable Trust.
What happens if you can’t make your mortgage repayments?
Inflation and the rising cost of living is affecting a lot of New Zealanders. Those who entered the property market with record low interest rates may start to feel the pinch as these rates continue to climb.
So what should you do if you can’t meet your mortgage repayments?
Talk to your lender
If you think you may struggle to meet your loan obligations, the first place to go is your lender. The earlier you touch base to discuss your options the better off you will be. Waiting until your loan is in default will compound the problem and make your situation harder to rectify. Your lender may be able to restructure your loan or change you to interest only payments. Interest only payments mean your loan principal won’t go up, but it also won’t go down. If you are still unable to make your repayments, you may be able to apply for financial hardship.
Financial hardship application
By law you have the right to ask your lender for a change your mortgage if you meet the following criteria:
You have suffered a hardship you couldn’t reasonably foresee, such as loss of employment or death of a partner; and
As a result of the hardship, you cannot meet your mortgage repayments; and
You believe you would be able to make your mortgage repayments if your loan agreement was restructured (see below).
You cannot make a hardship application:
If you’ve failed to make four or more repayments in a row; or
If you’ve been in default for two weeks or more after receiving a notice that you’re in default on your mortgage; or
After two months of being in default on your repayments.
Again, you need to deal with this early.
If you make a hardship application by meeting the above criteria, your lender is required to consider it and follow specific processes. The changes that can be made include:
Extending the term of the loan agreement and reducing the repayment amounts; or
A payment holiday (your repayments are postponed for a specific period); or
A combination of the above.
These options will relieve the pressure temporarily, but it is important to note they are likely to increase the total amount owing on a loan. The changes you ask for must be fair and reasonable to both you and your lender.
Refinance
Refinancing with a new lender offering lower interest rates can be option in some circumstances. You will have to make sure there are no break fees or cash-contributions you will have to pay back should you jump to a new lender. If you are thinking of refinancing you can get in touch with us, your broker or your bank to determine whether this is the right option for you.
Mortgagee Sale
If you are unable to get your payments back on track, your lender has the legal right to start the debt recovery process which may (in the worst case) lead to a mortgagee sale. This process is not a fast one as there are several legal obligations the lender must comply with before they can sell your home. If you believe this process is likely to start, or has started, get in touch with one of our team as soon as possible and we will guide you through it and work through some options with you.
The most important thing you can do when facing the possibility of defaulting on your loan is to act early. Get in touch with us or your lender as soon as you can to avoid the possibility of a mortgagee sale.