An Introduction to the Law of Contract (7th edition)

Authors: Ronán Feehily and Raymond Tiong 

An Introduction to the Law of Contract in New Zealand offers an uncomplicated analysis of the law of contract.  This updated seventh edition takes account of the important developments that have occurred in statute and case law since the sixth edition was published in 2018.

In that time, there have been several amendments to the principal Act, the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, by secondary legislation such as the Trusts Act 2019 and the Statutes Amendment Act 2019, as well as amendments that were enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow for businesses to electronically sign legal documents.  Relevant amendments to the Fair Trading Act 1986 are also discussed in the new edition, along with extensive case law analysis by way of case summaries which concisely illustrate key points of law.  Major new decisions include:  the Supreme Court decision in Bathurst Resource Ltd v L&M Coal Holdings Ltd [2021] NZSC 85 on the implications, interpretation and construction of contractual terms and the recent English cases Salam Air SAOC v Latam Airlines Group SA [2020] EWHC 2414 (Comm) and Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Ltd v SpiceJet Ltd [2021] EWHC 1117 which discuss frustration of contracts due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has not been directly dealt with by New Zealand courts.

A series of questions at the end of each chapter ensures that a student reader’s revision of this area of law is comprehensive.  The text is extensively cross-referenced and indexed, which makes finding the required part of the text straightforward.  The cross-references also help to reinforce the overlapping nature of the law of contract.

An Introduction to the Law of Contract (7^th edition) is a broad overview of the general principles underlying the law of contract.  It continues to be a valuable resource for all students undertaking contract law at undergraduate level and is, especially, essential reading for accounting, business and commerce students.  It is also a practical, straightforward guide for businesses and legal practitioners who need to find an answer quickly and simply.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: The Offer

Chapter 3: Acceptance

Chapter 4: Intention to Be Bound

Chapter 5: Consideration

Chapter 6: Capacity to Contract

Chapter 7: Privity of Contract

Chapter 8: Contents of a Contract

Chapter 9: Exempting, Excluding, and Limiting Terms

Chapter 10: Mistake

Chapter 11: Duress, Undue Influence, and Unconscionable Bargains

Chapter 12: Illegal and Void Contracts

Chapter 13: Misrepresentation and Breach of Contract

Chapter 14: Discharging a Contract

Chapter 15: Remedies

Table of Cases

Table of Statutes and Regulations

Subject Index