Māori legal
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Māori Land Law
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Complex General Land Law
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Resource Management Law
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Marine Law
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Tikanga
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Family Law
Dr Adrienne Paul – Head of Mahi Ngātahi Law
Dr Adrienne Paul brings to Halliwells a rare combination of legal, academic, and advocacy experience. She leads Mahi Ngātahi Law, a specialist division within Halliwells Lawyers dedicated to advancing Māori legal perspectives and providing expertise across areas where tikanga Māori and the law intersect.
Through this innovative partnership, Mahi Ngātahi Law is fully integrated into the Halliwells practice—benefiting from the firm’s experienced and established staff, resources, and specialist expertise across a broad range of legal areas. This collaboration enables greater national reach and deeper impact for clients throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Based in Christchurch, Dr Paul heads this new division as part of Halliwells’ expanding national practice. The establishment of Mahi Ngātahi Law represents a unique and forward-looking collaboration that demonstrates how bicultural partnerships can respond to the evolving needs of communities across Aotearoa.
About Mahi Ngātahi Law
Mahi Ngātahi Law is a specialist division of Halliwells Lawyers, operating from Christchurch where Dr Paul resides. While Halliwells is headquartered in Hāwera, Taranaki, and provides mobile legal services across Auckland, Mahi Ngātahi Law extends the firm’s footprint into the South Island. To our knowledge, this makes it the first Māori-led legal division operating from within the Christchurch region.
As a core part of Halliwells, Mahi Ngātahi Law combines the firm’s established infrastructure with Dr Paul’s specialist expertise to deliver high-quality, culturally grounded legal services nationwide..
About Dr Adrienne Paul
Dr Paul is a leading legal academic and practitioner in Māori legal issues, environmental law, and marine governance. She holds a PhD in Law and has lectured extensively at the University of Canterbury, AUT, and the University of Waikato. Her published research explores the interface between tikanga Māori and New Zealand’s legal system..
With a multidisciplinary background in law and marine science, Dr Paul is uniquely positioned to navigate complex legal issues where customary rights, environmental protection, and legislative frameworks converge. She is a trusted adviser to iwi, hapū, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations on matters involving Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori, and indigenous rights.
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After stepping away from her academic role at AUT, Dr Paul returns to full-time legal practice with Halliwells from 11 August 2025. She is a valued member of the Halliwells team, bringing specialist expertise and leadership to the firm’s growing national practice.
Areas of Expertise
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Māori Land Law
Māori Land Law – Expertise in Te Ture Whenua Māori Act matters, including succession, trusts, incorporations, partition, and alienation.
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Complex General Land Law
Advice on title irregularities, boundary disputes, adverse possession, easements, and historical anomalies.
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Resource Management Law
Advocacy and advisory work in resource consent processes and environmental planning, incorporating Te Tiriti and tikanga Māori principles.
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Marine & Coastal Law
Including MACA applications, customary marine title, protected customary rights, and fisheries law.
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Tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Nationally recognised for work in Te Tiriti strategy, tikanga in legal contexts, and indigenous rights frameworks.
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Family Law
Practising with cultural sensitivity in guardianship, family violence, and relationship property matters.