Qualifications
LLB (Hons, First Class), BA, University of Otago; LLM Columbia University (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar)
Admitted
2015, New Zealand
Rachael specialises in public and administrative law litigation, in particular claims involving tikanga Māori and constitutional issues. Her practice also spans general commercial and intellectual property disputes.
With her particular expertise in public, constitutional and Māori law issues, Rachael has represented clients in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Māori Land Court, and has acted in alternative dispute resolution forums.
She also advises clients on a range of commercial matters, including contentious intellectual property issues.
Rachael is from Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Rakaipaaka and is a senior member of our Māori Legal Group, Te Waka Ture.
Before joining Chapman Tripp, Rachael was a judges’ clerk at the High Court of New Zealand. In 2019, she completed a Master of Laws (LLM) at Columbia University in New York City which she attended as a Fulbright Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga scholar.
Rachael’s work is recognised in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution directory for 2022. She was also recognised as a Rising Star by NZ Lawyer in 2024
Recent highlights
- Appearing as counsel for the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust in judicial review proceedings challenging the Crown’s Treaty settlement policy in Tāmaki Makaurau, including its landmark win in the Supreme Court and related High Court trial.
- Appearing as counsel for Te Whakakitenga, the tribal authority for Waikato-Tainui, on governance issues in a successful Court of Appeal case.
- Acting for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in novel tikanga-based claims relating to freshwater.
- Acting in judicial review proceedings relating to the Waitangi Tribunal’s binding resumption jurisdiction.
- Representing a major energy company in a tax dispute relating to geothermal energy assets.
- Acting for ANZ in successful Supreme Court litigation over the sale of financial derivatives.
- Representing clients in major patent litigation, and on contentious intellectual property matters.
- Advising and appearing in courts and tribunals for iwi clients on Māori Land and Takutai Moana (foreshore and seabed) issues.
Affiliations
- Member of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (Māori Law Society).
- Member of Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ).
- Member of the Law Reform Committee of the New Zealand Law Society.
