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We work with a wide range of clients, from property consultancies, property and development companies, and fund managers, through to occupiers, private equity and venture capital groups. This gives candidates a good variety when it comes to making their next career move. Recruiting all core functions within the Commercial Real Estate sector, we recruit for a variety of positions, from recently-qualified surveyors, to Associate Directors and Managing Directors, and all professional positions in between.

Every country in the world has its own collection of strange laws. New Zealand is no exception. Our country has a lot of weird laws you’d be surprised are still in effect in 2018. Some are new, some are old, but they do make you wonder how they were ever legislated in the first place. However, there are specific intentions behind some of these laws – they do make (slightly) more sense once you understand the context and values of the region. 

It’s a crime to deface a banknote

Under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989, it’s a crime to “wilfully deface, disfigure, or mutate” bank notes. Any person who breaks this law will face a fine of up to $1,000. The idea of the law is to try and preserve paper money. In 2000, Filmmaker, Taika Waititi broke the law when he painted money as a part of an art project.

New Zealand will deny residency visas if a person’s BMI is too high

The New Zealand Immigration services require migrants to undergo a complete medical examination. This includes a body mass index (BMI) test. There have been cases where New Zealand has denied immigration to those who do not have a healthy BMI. Our country has an obesity problem and New Zealand is among the top three fattest counties in the world. The law was put in place for budgetary reasons. A spokesman for New Zealand’s immigration service said NZ’s healthcare system can’t afford to have more overweight people in the country. 

The authorities can legally confiscate your land

Auckland landowners should keep a strict eye on their land. If your land is near the Waitemata-to-Manukau harbour canal, the authorities have the right to confiscate it. This is under the 1908 Auckland and Manukau Canal Act. It can take the land “from time to time, either within or without the limits of its jurisdiction”. 

Atomic Energy laws

The 1945 Atomic Energy Act requires anyone who finds uranium in New Zealand, to report it to the government within three months. You have to report where you found the uranium also. Failing to comply is a criminal offense. Also, every high school in our country is allowed to have one pound of uranium and one pound of thorium, for conducting experiments. But if there’s ever a nuclear explosion, schools will have to pay a $1,000,000 fine.

The Whanganui River has the rights of a living person

After being officially confirmed under New Zealand law, the Whanganui River has the exact same rights as a human being. The local Maori tribe had fought for the recognition of their river for 140 years. In a world first, the river has a legal personality with all the rights and liabilities as an actual person. Harming or abusing the river is no different to harming the tribe or any other New Zealander. They’re one in the same. It’s a unique status that recognises the significance of the river to the region’s people.

So, whether you’ve got some uranium in the shed, or some land in the Waitemata-to-Manukau harbour area you’d like to keep hold of – watch out for New Zealand’s odd laws! Every country comes with their own legal quirks and New Zealand is no different.

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We’re here if you need help defining a role or brief, specialist insight to help shape your ideas or expert help with your recruitment process. Just get in touch to arrange a conversation with one of the team or if you’re ready for us to find the perfect person for you, send us your brief.

If you’re looking for your ideal job send your CV to us to get started or search for the latest job vacancies and we’ll get the ball rolling.

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​Describe your area of expertise and experience?

At Cobalt I work in the Client Side Construction team working with Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors & Build Surveyors. I have experience dealing with roles in the Public and Private sectors from Junior roles right through to Senior Management.

How would you describe your approach to work?

I am driven, focused and want to deliver quality results that help my Clients and Candidates. Doing this while having a positive, fun and engaging approach.

Why do your clients, candidate and colleagues trust you and want to work with you?

I take time to get to know my Clients and Candidates and understand their needs. I like to build long lasting relationships and deliver a quality service that people can trust in. I will always go the extra mile to help people and to get a successful outcome.

What do you love about working at Cobalt Recruitment?

I love working at Cobalt as I am surrounded by like minded professionals who have a genuine interest in delivering a quality Recruitment service. Plus we have a lot of fun as a ‘Cobalt family’ along the way!

What do you love most about what you do?

The satisfaction of helping people to get their dream jobs by connecting them with the right people. Also working in the Construction sector and seeing how my clients and candidates are shaping the future of New Zealand.

​Over a week has passed since the official lockdown and we are all settling into our new ways of working, adjusting to the staying at home life and routine. This has seen New Zealand getting to grips with remote working, online video meetings, juggling childcare around our work responsibilities and virtual catchups with family and friends. But what does this mean for lawyers that are job hunting and looking for that next exciting career opportunity? Right now, you may be feeling unsure of what to do next, possibly even a little anxious or you may have just lost out on a potential role due to the pandemic. In order to put your best foot forward make sure to be proactive, there are things you can do right now to plan, prepare and be ready for when the market becomes active again. 

Update your CV 

Now is the perfect time to update your CV. Once the employment climate warms up again it is likely that law firms are going to be inundated with new applications so make sure that yours will stand out from the crowd. A few tips to get you started on the structure of your CV: 

• Personal Statement: Start with a short personal statement about your level of experience, areas of expertise and interest area(s). Keep this concise and emphasise any significant attributes that align to the type of role(s) you’ll be applying for.

• Education: Set out your relevant qualifications, degrees, university and admission dates.

• Achievements: Mention any significant achievements within your legal career. If you are a recent graduate or junior lawyer, include any academic achievements or participation at relevant competitions.  

• Work History – never assume that an employer will already know what your previous and current role entails – bullet point the specific skills and experience gained in each of your roles as there may be something in each role that will pique their interest. If you have a long working history, it is fine to add more detail in your most recent roles and less detail in roles over 5-10 years ago. Use headings, bullet points and formatting appropriately so that the information is easy to read. Highlight a couple of key examples of recent matters that you have worked on (remembering confidentiality where applicable) and state what your involvement has been.  

• Interests: provide a short snapshot on what you enjoy doing or activities your involved in to show more about who you are as a person.

• Aim to keep your CV to a maximum of 4 pages and check your CV for grammar and spelling mistakes – after all, legal jobs require good attention to detail.

Upskill & refresh your knowledge

Take this time to refresh and update yourself on any relevant changes to legislation, policies or procedures in your legal practice area. Have a look at current news articles to understand upcoming reforms and changes to your field and you may find it useful to listen to online webinars, available to you through the law society.  These steps will help prepare you for the challenges that a new role may bring and will ensure that you are best equipped for your next career move. 

Interview preparation

Now is the time you can brush up on your interviewing skills. We, as specialist legal recruiters, can assist you with common interview questions in your practice area and give you any tips on how you can hone your interviewing skills and what you should prepare for.

Research the legal market 

With the internet readily available at our fingertips, set some time aside to learn more about the different employers that do work within your area of expertise and interests. Understand the backgrounds of seniors within the individual teams and note what makes each employer unique. Not only will this make for good talking points in any future interviews but it will also help you to understand the market and the firms that could potentially be a good fit for you.  

Get Advice

We are continually speaking to our clients within the legal market to understand their hiring requirements and how their practices are evolving. Speak to us, as we can give you honest feedback on your realistic prospects in the legal market and how to crack into positions that are of interest to you but where your background may not be quite on point at this point in your career.

Contact Referees 

The general rule is that employers will ask to complete at least two references (unless you’re a junior) if you progress through to end stages in a recruitment process. Get permission from your referees and give them the heads up now that they may be contacted by a prospective employer going forward. This will save you time down the line.

Availability

If you’re immediately available for work, being open to a contract as well as permanent role will improve your prospects. Employers may view hiring someone on contract, in a period of uncertainty, as lower risk than on a permanent basis. It might help you get your foot in the door with an employer that will set you on the right career trajectory, keep you working, and there may also be the possibility of a permanent role down the line.

Stay Connected

Now more than ever it’s important to stay in touch with those in your personal and professional circle for encouragement. If you are experiencing difficulties with your emotional or mental wellbeing you can find details of professional support on the official COVID-19 website by clicking here.   

At Cobalt we are here to assist you to get through this uncertain time in the job market. For CV advice, market knowledge or if you would like to have a chat about your current circumstances you can contact our legal team; Ashleigh Devall – 027 236 0177, and Anand Ranchhod – 027 2746 186.

Kia Kaha 

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Job hunting can be full of uncertainty. But with us, you can be sure that we’ll do everything we can to get you to your ideal job. Send your CV to us to get started or search for the latest job vacancies and we’ll get the ball rolling.

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By utilising our vast experience recruiting into the built environment and knowledge of the commercial construction market, we one of the best choices to source the best talent across the sector. We operate on a local and global level and partner with a diverse range of clients, ensuring they have the right individuals to help grow their business. Our advanced knowledge of the construction sector means we are well equipped to assist qualified and experienced individuals with opportunities across Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Site Management and Design Management both on a permanent and interim basis.

We’re a passionate team equipped with the skills and support needed to be able to work in a way that suits you best. It’s just one of the reasons why we stand out from the crowd.

As dynamic processes, such as modular construction, sweep through New Zealand, it’s slightly less hard to imagine a built environment where there’s no such thing as wasted time, where all structures are energy efficient, all exteriors are self-regenerative. Architects are always looking for ways to change the way we build things in the future. Here we outline some futuristic construction methods that could one day be commonplace in our towns and cities.

Bamboo Cities

What if cities were built from pollution-sucking bamboo instead of steel? Architectural studio Penda are planning to build a city made from bamboo in China. If this idea was realised, the future would be a utopian heaven for architects eager to achieve sustainability, because bamboo acts as an air purifier by generating oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. It produces 35% more oxygen than other trees.

It’s much stronger than steel and automatically regrows when harvested. Bamboo would allow for timely construction as it’s easy to build and modify, and it can be dismantled and reused.

Penda envisions that structures would be made from interlocking bamboo rods and ropes. If there was a modular system that used bamboo, we could be seeing entirely modern, bamboo high-rises.

Living green walls                                          

More urban space with green walls would represent a great step in reducing air pollution. The living green wall in Civic Square, Wellington is an example of how we can easily bring biodiversity to built-up areas. Green walls have risen in popularity in recent years, but they are yet to feature prominently in urban areas. They come with a huge range of benefits, including reducing the urban heat effect, which is caused by the little vegetation and great amounts of energy within cities, thus raising the temperature in comparison to rural areas. So, perhaps it’s time to incorporate more green into our grey cities.

Cardboard Homes

Building a house out of cardboard may seem like a bad idea, but this could become a viable option for the future – a prototype has already been successfully built. Named the Wikklehouse, Dutch architectural studio Fiction Factory managed to assemble a modular house, made completely from carboard all in one day. The home consists of interlocking cardboard segments, using breathable film and wooden cladding boards to waterproof the house. Also, it’s made from purely recyclable materials.The team behind the Wikklehouse say it has been designed to last for at least fifty years.

One of the best things about this type of construction is that it can be built anywhere, as the structure doesn’t need a foundation. Imagine being able to build a structure on any chosen site within twenty-four hours. Contractors could reduce build times drastically whilst welcoming the opportunity to build structures in a far greater variety of places. 

Graphene Buildings

Graphene is being thought of as a miracle-like new material, because of its impressive mechanical properties. For example, it’s 600 times stronger than steel, yet much lighter. We could create super-strong buildings with a coating of graphene on steel. With that in mind, it could be used to strengthen materials, meaning designers would be able to create bigger and more ambitious structures in the future. It’s also a great conductor of both heat and electricity, so there is outstanding protentional for graphene to be used in construction. There is much research to be done on graphene, but the material presents great opportunities for architecture in the future.

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We’re here if you need help defining a role or brief, specialist insight to help shape your ideas or expert help with your recruitment process. Just get in touch to arrange a conversation with one of the team or if you’re ready for us to find the perfect person for you, send us your brief.

If you’re looking for your ideal job send your CV to us to get started or search for the latest job vacancies and we’ll get the ball rolling.

Image Souces:

Image by Wikklehouse 

The Cobalt Legal Team have put together a report with up to date information regarding the current legal market in New Zealand, salary advice and trends based on their interactions with the market over the past year. We hope you find this information both informative and useful for understanding where the current market sits in relation to these matters. 

 Cobalt NZ Legal Snapshot 2019

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We’re here if you need help defining a role or brief, specialist insight to help shape your ideas or expert help with your recruitment process. Just get in touch to arrange a conversation with one of the team or if you’re ready for us to find the perfect person for you, send us your brief.

If you’re looking for your ideal job send your CV to us to get started or search for the latest job vacancies and we’ll get the ball rolling.

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Our team not only has a vast experience in the recruitment sector, but also come from backgrounds in the legal field. This experience means we are able to understand at a grass roots level what is required by in-house legal teams to build effective teams. We gain a deep understanding of the strategic goals that our clients are seeking to achieve, the challenges involved and consult with them as to how best to achieve this with the personnel they hire.

We’re a passionate team equipped with the skills and support needed to be able to work in a way that suits you best. It’s just one of the reasons why we stand out from the crowd.

The world of sport wouldn’t be the same without some of its most incredible stadiums. They give us a live viewing experience that cannot be matched and allow us to support the clubs we love. Stadiums bring fans and teams together, enhancing the entire spectacle of the sport. To feel the power of the crowd and the thrill of roaring voices is an experience not to miss. There are stadiums every sport fan dreams of visiting. These are the kind of stadiums that reign supreme and stand out from the rest. Cobalt Recruitment is singing the praises of the greatest stadiums in the world.

Rungrado 1st of May Stadium

The undisputed largest stadium in the world is the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, in Pyongyang, North Korea. This colossal structure has a total capacity of 114,000. It has been hosting football matches and athletics since 1989, with its first major event being the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students. The stadium’s most elaborate events are North Korea’s annual Mass Games. They are held to celebrate the country’s history and culture through dance performances and gymnastics. Featuring 16 arches arranged in a ring, the stadium has been built in the shape of a magnolia blossom. The structure stands about 60m tall and has eight stories. Construction took two and a half years, which is impressive considering its immense size. The arena is so large you could fit Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in it twice. 

Estadio BBVA Bancomer

Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Monterrey, Mexico is a majestic arena. While it has only been opened since 2015, it is one of the most awe-inspiring sports stadiums. It was inspired by Monterrey’s rich history and pays tribute to the city’s legacies as a steel manufacturer and breweries city. With its use of rolled steel and an aluminium façade, the materials highlight this history. Also, the stadium has a self-supporting tripodal structure and its shape provides exciting views from every direction. Despite being an attractive building, it was met with criticism due to concerns of the effects it could have on local wildlife. The developer of the project, FEMSA, have said they could minimize the effects. As the fourth largest stadium in Mexico, it can seat 53,500 people. 

Sapporo Dome

Located in Japan, the Sapporo Dome is home to the football team Consadole Sapporo and baseball team Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. It is the first dome in the world that features interchangeable surfaces for each sport. Construction started in 1998 it was designed by Japanese architect, Hiroshi Hara. The stadium has a “hovering system”, which opens and closes the dome walls to switch between natural and artificial turf. The dome also features an observational tower and tours are offered on days without games. It opened in 2001 and has a maximum capacity of around 41,000. 

Camp Nou

In terms of culture, history and popularity, Camp Nou is one of the most significant stadiums. Built in 1957, it is the biggest stadium in Europe, seating up to 105,000 people. It’s only right that this grandiose stadium is the home of Spanish giants Barcelona FC. Camp Nou is more or less a footballing paradise and it has an elegant, timeless design. It was designed by architects Francesc Mitjans and Josep Soteras, with the collaboration of Lorenzo Garcia-Barbon. Construction took three years and in 2016 plans were unveiled to upgrade the stadium. The stadium’s concourses and walkways will be remodelled. At a cost of £500m, the upgrade is expected to be completed in time for the 2021/22 season. It will also have the highest standard of sustainability by using collected rainwater and solar energy. Camp Nou an iconic football stadium with a sprawling history, attracting well over a million visitors every year. 

The Millennium Stadium

Since 2016, Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium has been known as the Principality Stadium for sponsorship purposes. This superbly constructed stadium opened in 1999 for the Rugby World Cup. Construction began in 1997 and 56,000 tonnes of concrete and steel were used to build the stadium. It was designed by Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture (now known as Populous). The total cost of the project was £121 million. The stadium’s first match saw Wales beat South Africa 29-19 and since then, the stadium has hosted many large-scale events, such as the Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain, various concerts and six FA cup finals. It may not quite have the history as other stadiums, but the sheer number of events it has hosted makes it one of the most invigorating. 

AT&T Stadium

The AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is the fourth largest NFL ground in America. It’s an 800-seat stadium and opened in 2009. The stadium serves as the home of Dallas Cowboys but has been used for other activities, such as concerts and soccer matches. What makes this sporting arena different from the rest is its retractable roof, which was designed by structural engineering firm Walter P Moore. The roof is designed to open and close in accordance with weather conditions. To ensure energy saving, the roofing is coated with a fabric membrane system that reduces temperatures and heat absorption. The stadium also has retractable doors at each end zone, 180-foot-wide by 120 feet high. Hellas Construction built the football turf and developed the interchangeable panels so the stadium could host various events. The concept for the structure was designed by HKS architectural firm. $1.15 billion was pumped into the construction of the AT&T Stadium, making it among the most expensive stadiums in the world. 

Many sports fans would kill to watch one game at one of these stadiums. Scattered all over the world, the stadiums here are truly jaw-dropping. They give you the kind of experience you simply can’t get when watching a sports match from the sofa in your home. These stunning sports stadiums have combined infrastructure and prestige to become the most iconic in the world.

Do you know any other amazingly built sporting arenas? Let us know in the comments box below!

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We’re here if you need help defining a role or brief, specialist insight to help shape your ideas or expert help with your recruitment process. Just get in touch to arrange a conversation with one of the team or if you’re ready for us to find the perfect person for you, send us your brief.

If you’re looking for your ideal job send your CV to us to get started or search for the latest job vacancies and we’ll get the ball rolling.