Ko Wai Mātou

Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhourangi, Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui.

Waikato, Ngāti Kahu (Te Paatu).

Ngāti Kahungunu.

Ngāti Raukawa ki Wharepuhunga, Te Pae o Raukawa, Ngāti Paretekawa o Ngāti Maniapoto.

Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Pakeha

Following roles with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Wellington/Tokyo) and the Department of Conservation (Whangārei/Wellington) Paula returned home to Whangārei in 2014 where she worked in various voluntary community roles and project managed Waitangi Tribunal claims for Whangārei hapu.

In 2012 Paula completed a Bachelor of Mātauranga Māori with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and in 2016 completed her professional legal studies.

Paula was admitted to the bar in the Whangārei High Court in June 2017 and is delighted to be finally practicing law. A member of the Litigation team, Paula has a particular interest in employment, and ngā take Māori. She also volunteers as a mentor with I Have A Dream Charitable Trust working with tamariki and rangatahi in the communities of Tikipunga and Otangarei.

Solicitor at Kayes Fletcher Walker.

Ngāti Whitikaupeka.

Ngāti Porou.

Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāi Te Rangi.

Melissa is a solicitor working in Holland Beckett Law’s Property and Civil Litigation Team.

Melissa grew up primarily in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, in Te Teko and completed her degree at the University of Waikato. Melissa previously spent 14 years as a Primary School Teacher. After her admission to the Bar she became a Deputy Registrar/Court Taker in the Criminal Team at Rotorua District Court. She specialises Māori land law, Trusts and civil litigation.

Outside work Melissa is actively involved in tennis and is a member of the Rotorua Tennis Club. She joined Arawa Toastmasters Club in 2018. Melissa’s whakapapa connections are with Mataatua, Te Arawa and Tainui.

Barrister specialising in criminal defence law.

Lawyer, Tairāwhiti Community Law Centre.

Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.

Ngāti Porou (Te Whānau a Putaanga), Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu.

Tara is an Associate at Kāhui Legal.

Holding a conjoint degree in Law and Arts (double major in English and History) and a First Class Honours degree in History from the University of Auckland, Tara was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court in 2018.

She has assisted on litigation matters ranging from the Waitangi Tribunal, Māori Land Court through to the Supreme Court. She specialises in issues relating to the Treaty of Waitangi, including historical Treaty claims and Treaty of Waitangi settlements. She previously worked at the Waitangi Tribunal as a Research Analyst and then as Deputy Registrar.

Alex is of Ngāi Tahu descent. He currently works as an Employed Barrister at Walker Street Chambers in Christchurch. Prior to this he has worked as a Deputy Registrar, Probation Officer, at the Public Defence Service and as a solicitor in a private firm. Alex’s main area of practice is in criminal law, although he has acted in civil, employment and Māori Land Court matters previously. He completed his LLB at the University of Auckland, and later completed his LLM at AUT specialising in Criminal Law.

He also volunteers with New Zealand Cadets Forces, becoming a commissioned officer in 2015, where most recently he was in command of Tāmaki Cadet Unit in Otahuhu. Outside of mahi, Alex enjoys getting outdoors doing hiking, tramping, and archery.

Rōia/Solicitor at Gallaway Cook Allan Lawyers.

Ngāpuhi.

Ngāpuhi, Ngai Te Rangi

Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Rarawa.

LLB/BA Student at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington.