Māori Legal

Māori legal issues are embedded in many facets of law, and many businesses, public entities, and individuals need to understand these issues if they want to operate effectively in Aotearoa.

We recognise the importance of our clients, particularly Māori, receiving excellent legal services. Our Māori legal group, Ngā Manu Tāiko, incorporates specialist practitioners from across our firm to provide clients with meaningful solutions regarding environmental and resource management matters, corporate, commercial, trusts and governance, employment, property and public law, as well as delivering passionate advocacy in courts at all levels.

With a growing focus on the health and vitality of New Zealand's natural resources, environment and resource management issues continue to attract significant interest in the Māori legal world. Ngā Manu Tāiko advises individuals, hapū, iwi, organisations and large corporates on issues relating to the Resource Management Act 1991, the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, aquaculture management under Treaty settlement legislation and climate change.

We provide strategic advice on major projects from the planning stage through to securing consents, including in relation to consultation with tangata whenua.

Our team is also well-versed in dealing with sensitive issues such as wāhi tapu and historic heritage, and the development of natural resources including geothermal systems, mineral, forests and other taonga in a sustainable manner.

Ngā Manu Tāiko litigators are leaders in their field, with a broad range of experience and significant expertise in resolving complex disputes. Our focus is achieving the objectives of our clients – working with them to minimise risk at the outset through to litigation.

Our advocates have extensive experience in appearing before the courts, appearing in arbitrations and mediations, assisting with negotiation, and consulting with Parliament.

Ngā Manu Tāiko has broad experience in public law. Whether our clients are seeking to engage with central or local government, or pursuing public law litigation, including declaratory proceedings and judicial reviews of administrative action, we provide a unique perspective on Māori public law issues which benefits from the expertise from our Public, Regulatory and Competition team both in Auckland and in the heart of government in Wellington.

Māori clients need assistance in a variety of commercial matters. Ngā Manu Tāiko provides a full suite of commercial services which increasingly involve a Māori element including advising on contracts, as well as specialist advice on post-settlement governance and trust law.

Ngā Manu Tāiko offers a unique perspective on Māori related tax issues, providing advice on tax issues affecting Māori organisations and on corporate structuring to align with tax requirements.

Our clients also receive strategic advice on new tax regimes and management of taxation issues in the post-settlement world (including registration of charities to achieve the social aims of iwi and hapū alike).

Settlements under the Treaty of Waitangi often lead to significant judgements where we can assist clients with the management of their taxes post settlement.