Council of Legal Education makes two new appointments

The New Zealand Council of Legal Education has made two new appointments.

Lawyers Natalie Coates and Maia Wikaira joined the council effective 27 March, said the New Zealand Law Society. Coates will serve until 26 March 2023, while Wikaira will serve until 28 September 2020.

Coates is a barrister in Wellington and a partner in Kahui Legal, one of the top Māori law firms in the country. Prior to joining the firm in 2014, she was a lecturer at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Law, where she presently teaches part time.

She specialises in the Treaty of Waitangi, public and administrative law, litigation, Māori land law, trusts law (including Māori land trusts, post-settlement governance entities and charitable trusts), companies and corporate law (including corporate governance) and Māori, human and indigenous rights.

Coates has appeared before the Supreme Court and the Māori Land Court to assist on litigation matters as well.

Wikaira is a barrister of the High Court and has also been admitted as an attorney of the Yurok Tribal Court in California, where she represented the tribe in dealings with federal, state and other tribal governments. She is a director in Lower Hutt firm Whaia Legal, and has experience in resource management, Māori law and commercial litigation.

Prior to her tenure in Whaia Legal, Wikaira worked for Russell McVeagh and Kahui Legal. She has also appeared before the Waitangi Tribunal, Environment Court, Māori Land Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.