Selwyn_Times: January 31, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday January 31 2024
14
NEWS
Musician charged
Legal Matters
Specialist Property and
Public Works Act Lawyers
Tavendale and Partners is
delighted to have two leading
property lawyers on the team that
are particularly experienced in
assisting private landowners with
the loss of their land when it is
acquired pursuant to the Public
Works Act.
Kate Warren is a Selwyn local
that has a Masters of Law (Hons)
degree in the area of Property
Law. Kate has assisted multiple
private landowners in Canterbury
with the loss of their land when
it has been acquired by the
Crown and Councils. These land
acquisitions have included the
taking of farmland, residential
property, business relocation, and
many other associated issues.
In 2023 the TP team welcomed on
board Richard Rodden, a partner
at our Auckland office. Richard
spent the last few years of his
career working for an intermediary
organisation often used by the
acquiring authority to negotiate
the land acquisition from private
landowners. Not only is Richard an
expert property lawyer, he comes
with an insight into the workings
and processes on the other side of
the table.
Supporting Kate and Richard,
you have the benefit of a strong
Environment and Resource
Management team, together with
one of the few accredited suppliers
to Land Information New Zealand,
Kit Mouat. We really do have all
the specialist skills, together with
real motivation and passion for all
issues in respect of property law,
Crown land, conservation, land
information New Zealand dealings,
and Public Works Act, all under
one roof!
The Public Works Act provides
for a process under which land
(or an interest in land such as
an easement) can be acquired
or taken for the purposes of a
public work, and navigating this
can be challenging. For private
landowners, the prospect of
having your land taken under the
Public Works Act can be a complex,
stressful and impactful process.
Section 66 of the Public Works
Act provides that your reasonable
legal fees are usually covered and
therefore there is no cost to you,
nor reason not to go straight to
those that really specialise in this
area of the law.
Keep an eye out for our next
article for more on the Public
Works Act from a legal perspective.
with sexual assault
eleven years on
• By Anna Leask
A MUSICIAN has been charged with
sexually assaulting a woman.
Manu Francois, 34, appeared in the
district court on Tuesday for the first time
since his arrest.
Police allege Francois, who lives in the
West Melton area, sexually violated a
woman over the age of 16 between December
1 and 31, 2013.
He did not seek name suppression when
he appeared before a community magistrate
this morning, by audio-visual link
from the police cells.
The court heard he had applied for legal
aid and was seeking bail.
Bail was granted on condition he surrender
his passport and not make any
contact with the complainant.
He is due to appear in court again on
February 20.
Francois is described online as “a New
Zealand rapper, singer-songwriter, music
producer, multi-instrumentalist and
model”.
He was born in St Lucia and has split his
time between the Caribbean island, where
his father lives, and Christchurch, where
his mother is from.
His first album was released in 2017, followed
by albums in 2018 and 2020.
“Francois was nominated for Best
International Artist for the BingeTV 2021
Music Awards,” an online profile says.
“Francois has run his own recording studio
. . . He is also a member of the groove
roulette band ZoLeKa.”
Five weeks ago he posted on Instagram
that he was “moving to England/Europe”
to continue his music.
“I create my own brand of pop music, I
also play guitar and write ballads,” he said.
“I am a lone wolf but a vibrant entertainer.
I dream to play festivals and shows
CHARGED: Christchurch-based
musician Manu Francois appeared
in court on Tuesday for allegedly
sexually violating a woman in 2013.
around the world and I am working on
this goal in 2024.”
A week ago, he posted a series of photos
with his young child and family.
“We’re about to leave New Zealand for
Berlin, where I will be focusing on building
my music career and working on my
life generally,” he said.
“I might even disappear off social media
and focus on just living my life. Remember
just living our lives? Miss that.
“2024 for me is a year of growth, dedication,
fun, freedom and life in general. I
truly look forward to what’s to come.”
Francois is married with a child.
– NZ Herald
Please contact us to make an appointment
in one of the four convenient office locations
Darfield • Ashburton • Rolleston • Christchurch
Kate Warren (Senior Associate)
Mobile: 0273843054
Email: kate.warren@tp.co.nz
Rolleston & Darfield office: 03 317 9099
Christchurch office: 03 374 9999
Ashburton office: 03 308 4188
Rural and Agricultural Law, Conveyancing, refinancing, leasing & property transactions,
Land acquisitions, boundary adjustment and subdivision, Insurance Law, Occupation Right Agreements
and Estate and Succession Planning, including Enduring Powers of Attorney, Trusts, and Wills.
MUSIC: Francois
describes
himself as a
“lone wolf”
and a “vibrant
entertainer”.
SEXUAL HARM
Where to get
help:
If it’s an emergency
and you feel that
you or someone
else is at risk, call
111.
If you’ve ever
experienced
sexual assault or
abuse and need to
talk to someone,
contact Safe to Talk
confidentially, any
time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email support@
safetotalk.nz
• For more info
or to web chat
visitsafetotalk.nz
Alternatively
contact your local
police station.
If you have been
sexually assaulted,
remember it’s not
your fault.