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Man loses legal bid to reclaim $45k diamond engagement ring after split with fianceé

Published

3 years ago

December 20, 2023

A man has unsuccessfully attempted to sue his ex-fianceé for a $45,000 engagement ring he gave her.

The couple were together for several years before the man proposed with a three-stone diamond ring in a platinum setting.

However, four months later the relationship fell apart and the man attempted to take the woman to court to either get the ring back or the amount he claimed it cost him to buy.

In a Family Court judgment from October, released today, Judge Andrea Manuel declined the man’s application for a court order for the return of the ring.

According to the judgment the couple began a de facto relationship during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

At the time Katie River* was in her late 20s and Steve Lambert* was 40.

Lambert was the managing director of a company and in comparison to River had substantial wealth.

She moved into his home and they attempted to start a family together, scheduling appointments at a fertility clinic soon after their relationship began.

At Lambert’s suggestion, the woman left her job and worked for him as an executive assistant, and he used the government Covid wage subsidy to pay her.

However, the work she ended up doing didn’t match the job description. Rather, she ended up predominantly doing housework and selling second-hand goods while the wage subsidy paid for living expenses.

When the lockdown ended, River found it hard to return to the workforce given her background in hospitality, so she continued to work for Lambert as his assistant.

In this capacity, she said she assisted with the sale of two of his properties and associated furnishings.

The sale of those two properties funded a new third home, which the couple moved into together.

Lambert disagreed to the extent River helped and Judge Manuel said it was clear he viewed himself as the main contributor to the relationship and maintained that returning the ring was necessary to restore him to the financial position he would have been if they’d never agreed to marry.

Lambert asked River to marry him in 2022 but four months later the relationship ended after she obtained a temporary protection order against him on the grounds of physical and psychological abuse.

Lambert denied the allegations, which were ultimately settled.

He remained in the new house while River moved back with her parents, having used all her savings and unable to find a job.

Lambert agreed to pay her $10,000, which she spent on legal fees for the family violence case against him, and on preparing for the case to keep the ring.

Lambert relied on a seldom-used piece of law called the Domestic Actions Act, 1975, which abolished the ability to claim damages if one party committed adultery or breached their promise to marry.

In this case, it also clarified property disputes arising from an agreement to marry someone.

In 1976, the Property Relationships Act was introduced setting out the rules for what happens to the division of property when a relationship ends in separation or death.

The Domestic Actions Act was then amended to include de facto relationships – where a couple has been living together for at least two years – as well as traditional marriages.

Many couples who agreed to marry lived in de facto relationships and relied on the provisions of the Property Relationships Act, rather than the Domestic Actions Act, to resolve their property disputes, which is why the latter was used so infrequently.

Lambert argued because the de facto relationship was of such a short duration he was able to apply for the ring back under the Domestic Actions Act.

River’s lawyers claimed the ring was a gift and was separate property. They were surprised when the claim for the ring was lodged because they understood the settlement in the family violence proceedings had ended all disputes between the couple.

River ran out of money to pay her lawyers and self-represented for some of the court proceedings before she stopped engaging.

Judge Manuel said there was no evidence about how much Lambert actually paid for the ring nor how much it was worth.

She said the other difficulty was in isolating a single item of property in a relationship dispute when the couple had been in a de facto relationship for two-and-a-half years.

“If a single item such as the ring is dealt with in a vacuum and the contributions made by the parties to property and to the relationship more generally are put to one side, an injustice may occur,” Judge Manuel said.

She said if the court made an order in Lambert’s favour there would be a risk that if River didn’t have the ring or didn’t return it then she’d have to pay her ex more than it was actually worth.

The judge also noted that while Lambert might be returned to the financial state he would have been if they’d never agreed to marry, River wouldn’t.

Judge Manuel declined to grant Lambert’s application for the ring or its value to be returned or paid to him.

*Katie River and Steve Lambert are not their real names. These are pseudonyms assigned by the Family Court to protect their identities.

– This story was first published by the NZ Herald.

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Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

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Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

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