Te Aro Law Ltd is a law firm based in the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, focused on serving the community in litigation and dispute resolution. The firm's practice covers family law, criminal and parole law, civil and employment disputes, work before the Waitangi Tribunal, and mediation, alongside information on free legal help options for those who need it.
The firm is led by three Tumuaki (Directors) — Charlotte Shade, Robyn Zwaan and Helen Curtis — supported by Kaiwhakahaere (Practice Manager) Kara Pennington and a team of Rōia (Lawyers): Ainslie Teki, Matt Taylor, Ania Roznawska, Agnes Lavea Levi, Māia Whitaker, Satirayan Ravichandiren and Fergus Porteous. Between them, the team covers criminal (including PAL1 and parole), family, civil, mental health and Waitangi Tribunal legal aid matters, with several supervised legal aid providers working alongside more experienced practitioners.
The team brings a wide range of backgrounds and experience — from civil litigation with a focus on local government, debt recovery and corporate insolvency, to prison and immigration law, to membership of the Family and Property Law Sections of the New Zealand Law Society and involvement with the Wellington Family Court Association committee. Te Aro Law is located at Level 11, 94 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
Based on Level 11 of 94 Dixon Street in Te Aro, right in the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Te Aro Law Ltd describes its purpose plainly: 'We'd like to help you make things better.' The firm's work centres on litigation and dispute resolution, with a particular focus on serving the community across family law, criminal and parole law, civil and employment disputes, and matters before the Waitangi Tribunal.
One thread running through Te Aro Law's team bios is legal aid provision. Each of the firm's lawyers is registered as either a legal aid provider or a supervised legal aid provider across combinations of criminal (including PAL1 and parole), family, civil, mental health, and Waitangi Tribunal matters — meaning the firm is set up to support clients who might not otherwise be able to afford representation in these areas.
The firm is led by three Tumuaki (Directors). Charlotte Shade works primarily in criminal and family law, with experience in employment disputes and civil matters, and is a legal aid provider across criminal (PAL1/Parole), family and civil work. Robyn Zwaan practices in the Waitangi Tribunal alongside family and criminal law, with experience in civil matters, and holds legal aid provider status across Waitangi Tribunal, civil, family and criminal (PAL1) work. Helen Curtis works primarily in family and criminal law as well as the Waitangi Tribunal, as a legal aid provider in criminal (PAL1/Parole), family and civil matters, and a supervised legal aid provider in Waitangi Tribunal matters.
Kara Pennington, the firm's Kaiwhakahaere (Practice Manager), coordinates the day-to-day running of Te Aro Law, drawing on a background in the community and social sector working with organisations focused on social justice.
The firm's Rōia (Lawyers) bring varied specialisms. Ainslie Teki works primarily in family, criminal and civil law as well as the Waitangi Tribunal. Matt Taylor works across family, property, mental health, criminal and civil law, and is a member of the Family and Property Law Sections of the New Zealand Law Society, as well as sitting on the Wellington Family Court Association committee. Ania Roznawska works primarily in criminal, family and civil law, bringing prior civil litigation experience in local government, debt recovery and corporate insolvency. Agnes Lavea Levi covers family, criminal and civil law, plus Waitangi Tribunal matters. Māia Whitaker works primarily in family and criminal law, having also worked on property and employment matters. Satirayan Ravichandiren works primarily in family law, with prior experience in family, prison and immigration law. Fergus Porteous works primarily in criminal, family and civil law.
The team's backgrounds reflect a wide range of upbringing and heritage across Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond, including Māori, Pākehā, Samoan, Dutch, German, British, Scottish, Polish, Tamil and Singaporean connections, along with study at Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Otago, the University of Canterbury and Auckland University.
Te Aro Law Ltd can be reached on 0800 992 265, or by general enquiry at [email protected]. The office is located at Level 11, 94 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, with a postal address at PO Box 11277, Manners Street, Te Aro, Wellington. Those seeking help but unsure of cost are directed to the firm's dedicated Free Legal Help information page.