Marie Wisker

Marie leads our national employment and health and safety team. 

She advises clients on issues regarding minimum entitlements, restructurings, restraints of trade, employment grievances and disputes, performance and misconduct matters, work-related investigations and protected disclosures and union-related matters (including bargaining).

Marie has represented clients in numerous mediations and hearings, has experience in acting for employers on health and safety investigations and prosecutions and works alongside clients to help them understand their obligations under the health and safety regime.

Marie also provides front-end advice during due diligence and implementation phases of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and restructurings.

She is recognised as a Leading Lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific 2026 and as a Leading Partner by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026.

Recent highlights

• Advised numerous retirement living and aged care providers on a range of employment matters, including personal grievance claims, restructurings and the implementation of an executive STI scheme.  
• Advised a major New Zealand bank on its health and safety obligations in relation to its physical sites, including site maintenance and security, security and safety of its staff.
• Represented the Whangārei Boys High School Board in relation to the Abbey Caves disaster, in which a student drowned during a school caving trip.
• Acted for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group in relation to WorkSafe’s investigation into the Whakaari eruption.
• Acted for various companies in relation to sensitive employment investigations, LTI and STI schemes, disputes and disclosure matters.
• Frequently participated in matters requiring negotiation with union representatives, including representing several clients in bargaining-related matters and advising an EBOS subsidiary regarding arrangements for an essential service during strike action.