Tania joined Kāhui Legal in 2024. Tania previously worked for a large national law firm, a large Australian law firm, and a leading regional law firm based in Tauranga. Tania also previously owned her own business manufacturing health and beauty products with native plant extracts. Tania has worked for the University of Auckland and University of Waikato tutoring law students and teaching the Legal Diploma course. Tania is a published academic author in NZ and Japan on indigenous IP issues and is completing her LLM at the University of Auckland in 2024. Tania holds a conjoint Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Māori) degree from the University of Waikato.
Tania has 20 years of post-qualification experience across a wide array of specialties. She specialises in Employment Law, Health & Safety, Civil Litigation, MACA, and Resource Management issues relating to iwi and hapū including Te Tiriti ō Waitangi and tikanga issues. She is also a specialist practitioner in relation to kiwifruit orchards on Māori land, and has a commercial law background with a focus on Māori business and governance entities. Tania is an experienced litigator and has appeared in the Employment Court, Environment Court, Waitangi Tribunal, District Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
Tania is heavily involved in hapū resource management issues as a representative for her hapū Ngā Maihi from Te Teko on the Rangitāiki Hapū Coalition. Tania is also one of the founding members of the Rangitāiki River Environmental Fund Trust, a charitable trust vehicle created in partnership with TrustPower and Fonterra that supports environmental projects and marae development along the 6 marae of Ngāti Awa ki Rangitāiki.
Tania has a passion for charity work relating to suicide prevention and was a founding trustee of what is now known as the Key to Life Charitable Trust with Mike King. This trust provides the Gumboot Day initiative raising money to provide free counselling for children and young people dealing with mental health issues.
Tania has one son, Uenuku and lives in Mount Maunganui. In her spare time she is a NZ representative in Olympic weightlifting, CrossFitter and artist. Tania is also involved in documentary making and creative writing, and has won several writing competitions with several of her short stories being published.
