Our People

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

Natalie is currently a Partner at Kāhui Legal. Prior to joining Kāhui Legal Natalie worked for an iwi organisation, two of New Zealand’s large national law firms, an international human rights organisation and the Auckland University Faculty of Law.

Natalie holds honours degrees in Law and Arts (Māori Studies) from the University of Otago. In 2011 Natalie received the Fulbright Nga Pae o te Māramatanga graduate award, the New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship and a Ngārimu VC and 28th (Maori) Battalion Memorial Masters Scholarship. These awards allowed Natalie to obtain a LLM (Masters of Law) from Harvard University. After completing her masters Natalie returned to New Zealand where she worked as a Law Lecturer at the University of Auckland for two years teaching undergraduate courses at all levels.

At Kāhui Legal, Natalie provides advice to clients on public law, commercial matters, the law relating to trusts, Maori land law and Maori, human and indigenous rights. Natalie has assisted on litigation matters ranging from the Maori Land Court through to the Supreme Court.

Of Waikato, Ngāti Kahu (Te Paatu) whakapapa, Tai is a Tumuaki of Whāia Legal in Wellington.

tumuakitane@maorilawsociety.co.nz

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.

secretary@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Nikita Day is an Associate at Greenwood Roche where she has been since 2019, Trustee of Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust.

treasurer@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Dr Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown (Te Aupōuri) is a legal academic at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University whose work focuses mostly on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, decolonisation and family law. He lives in Pōneke and is addicted to Tim Tams.

kaimatauranga@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Te Rarawa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kororā, Te Waiariki, Ngāti Taka .

taitokerau@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Rarawa

Manawa completed her LLB/BA (History) at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka in November 2024. In her final year, she served as Co-Tumuaki of Te Rōpū Whai Pūtake (Māori Law Students’ Association) and Co-Tauira Representative on THRMoA Executive. In her term, she formalised Tūmatakahuki – the National Māori Law Students’ Association and organised two wānanga connecting tauira from across the motu.

Manawa is passionate about oral advocacy. In 2023, she represented Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka in the National Kaupapa Māori Negotiation Competition. In 2024, she was a finalist in the Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka Senior Mooting Competition held in the Dunedin High Court. Later that year, she went on to win the National Kaupapa Māori Mooting Competition and be jointly awarded ‘Best Speaker’. Manawa will begin her legal career in February 2025 when she joins Meredith Connell in Auckland as a Law Clerk.

tamaki@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Solicitor at Kayes Fletcher Walker.

tamaki@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Ngāti Porou.

Cree is a Senior Solicitor at McCaw Lewis in their Kahurangi Tiriti team.

He is heavily involved in representing clients in Waitangi Trubunal proceedings and advising on takutai moana matters in the High Court and Crown engagement. He also advises in the employment space.

waikato@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Te Arawa

Director of Ngawhika Law Ltd in Rotorua.

waiariki@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Te Arawa

Director of Treanor Law Ltd in Rotorua.

waiariki@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Echo (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Pākehā) is a criminal litigation lawyer with experience as prosecutor and defence counsel, as well as in Inquiry work and disciplinary decisionmaking. As a speaker of te reo Māori, Echo embraces tikanga Māori and is particularly interested in tikanga applications as an alternative to mainstream conflict resolution. She holds positions on the leadership committee of Te Matakahi (the Defence Lawyers’ Association of NZ) and the Complaints Assessment Committee Panel for the Real Estate Authority. She is also one of the co-convenors for the THRMoA Criminal Law Reform Subcomittee.

tairawhiti@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.

taihauauru@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Ngāti Kahungunu me Rangitāne ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Whakaue me Ngāti Rongomai.

Herewini is a solicitor at Kāhui Legal, based between Wairarapa and Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

whanganuiatara@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Porou

Tawheta works at Kāhui Legal. Tawheta is committed to a career where the law is a pivotal tool in helping Māori. He has worked on a number of commercial, criminal and Māori land matters, and appreciates working across diverse practice areas.

Tawheta has a particular interest in criminal law, an area in which Māori have long been over-represented, as well as Treaty of Waitangi and tikanga Māori developments. Tawheta believes te ao Māori holds the key to a constitution that can create a society where our people will thrive.

whanganuiatara@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Alex is of Ngāi Tahu descent. He currently works at Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council) as a Principal Strategy Advisor, focussing on the relationship between the Council and Ngā Papatipu Rūnanga in Waitaha. Prior to this he has worked in a variety of roles, including as a Deputy Registrar, Probation Officer, and legal practice roles. Alex’s main area of practice was criminal law, although he has also acted in civil, employment and Māori Land Court matters. 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 he has held a number of leadership and command positions. Outside of mahi, Alex enjoys getting outdoors doing a variety of pursuits.

otautahi@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, in 2017 Dan moved to Ōtepoti to study a conjoint LLB/BA and las lived in the rohe since. He currently works at Te Hou Ora Whānau Services and the Ngāi Tahu Māori Law Centre.

Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Porou

Natalya has worked in the legal arm of the Waitangi Tribunal since early 2024, coming from the Māori Land Court as a Judges’ clerk. She is based in Whanganui-ā-Tara.

admin@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Rhianna is a third year lawyer working at Bell Gully, having previously worked at Kāhui Legal. She is based in Te Whanganui a Tara.

Te Arawa, Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara
Lauryn is currently completing her LLB and Bachelor of Business (majoring in International strategy and Business) at Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau.

Throughout her studies at Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau (Auckland University of Technology), Lauryn has served as a Tuakana Tutor and Mentor for first and second-year law tauira, specialising in Public Law, Aotearoa’s Legal Systems, and Moot Advocacy. She has also upheld numerous executive roles, namely as the Competitions Officer for Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau’s Mooting Society.

Lauryn is passionate about uplifting her community through research and advocacy. Since beginning her studies in 2021, she has worked as a law clerk, gaining experience in a wide spectrum of Waitangi Tribunal matters. In 2023 she won AUT’s Bell Gully and MC Mooting Competitions, as well as being awarded the Top Junior Mooter for 2023. Since then, Lauryn has been a part of the winning team for the recent 2024 Te Hunga Rōia National Negotiations Competition.

tauira@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Ngāpuhi, Ngāitai, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu

Jimmy is studying towards an LLB and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Relations) at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington.

He has previously served as Tumuaki Tāne of Ngā Rangahautira (Victoria University of Wellington Māori Law Students Association), Co-President of the Victoria University of Wellington Pasifika Law Students’ Society, and on the Executive of the Victoria University of Wellington Law Students’ Society (VUWLSS). Jimmy is also currently the President of the Rongotai College Old Boys’ Association and the New Zealand Law Students’ Association Legal Client Interviewing Champion.

tauira@maorilawsociety.co.nz

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Kaharau

Aroha is a Senior Solicitor at Kaupare Law.