June 17, 2005

Media Release

Court decision important

The EPMU, NZ's largest union, has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court on the employment status of Lord of the Rings modelmaker James Bryson.

EPMU general counsel TW said the Supreme Court decision was an important reinforcement of the Employment Relations Act's approach to determining whether a person was an employee or a self-employed contractor.

The Employment Court had held that Mr Bryson was an employee. The Court of Appeal, by a 2-1 majority, overturned that decision.

"The Act requires a decision to be made taking into account the real nature of the relationship between the two parties concerned," TW said.

"The Supreme Court has confirmed that approach, which will restore clarity to the law in this area".

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