Lawyer profiles

• Dark beer loving political advocate’s unusual CV

  Brigitte Morten got bored three weeks into her LLM studies so went to work for the Israelis and spent the next 10 years in politics, coming home with a postgraduate diploma in counter-terrorism.“I went to Australia to do my Masters, which I thought would take 10 to 12 months,”…

• Comic lover and the political passion his Granny gave him

  Employment lawyer Simon Martin’s interesting reading tastes often gets him gently hassled – but he sees his beloved comics as another form of art and storytelling.“I have always had a very misplaced affinity for comic books, which gets me hassled quite frequently,” says Simon, who was recently made partner…

• The long road from Black Stick gold medal-winner to lawyer

  Pippa Hayward was studying law while juggling a professional sports career as a member…

• Oprah-inspired, Egyptian-born lawyer striving to make a contribution

  Diana Youssif, Solicitor, Parry Field Lawyers, ChristchurchDiana Youssif was born and grew up in…

• Inspired by the appeal of all-Māori women law firm

  When a life-changing opportunity opened the door to a legal career Ruakaka teenager Alisha…

• West Coaster’s surprising moment opened door to law

  Born into a family of West Coast publicans, family law specialist, guitarist and marathon…

Obituaries

• Judge Robert Graeme (Rob) Ronayne, 1955 - 2020

  District Court Judge Rob Ronayne will be remembered as a fair and empathetic man who tirelessly served the legal profession for over 40 years.Judge Ronayne died suddenly at his Auckland home on 7 January. He was 64 years old.In paying tribute to him, Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu…

• Harold Stewart (Harry) Edward, 1950 - 2019

  Harry Edward died suddenly on 27 October 2019. Rotorua has lost one of its most respected and colourful criminal defence counsel.Harry was born in Rotorua on 14 September 1950. His family moved to Ashburton for a time before returning to Rotorua. Harry entered the law after working as a…

• (Raymond) Bruce Squire QC, 1943 - 2019

  Bruce was the son of a Northland naval man who had fought in the…

• Tere Akatangi Mataio, 1934 - 2005

  Tere Akatangi Mataoi was the first Cook Islander to be admitted to the New…

• James Sugden Hanna SM, 1893 - 1960

  James Sugden Hanna was Wellington’s senior stipendiary magistrate at his sudden death on 27…

• Olive Virginia Malienafau Nelson, 1917 - 1970

  The first Samoan to obtain a law degree in New Zealand, and the first…