Legal Counsel

Te Runanga Group
New Zealand
2 days ago

Permanent, Full Time (or Part Time, minimum 25 hours per week)
Ōtautahi / Christchurch

Kia hiwa rā!

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is seeking a talented Legal Counsel to support the provision of legal advice across the wider iwi organisation. We are particularly looking for a person with strong commercial and or property law experience. This is an exciting position with an opportunity to share your expertise to enrich the lives of current and future generations of Ngāi Tahu Whānui.

This role could be a great fit for a range of candidates, including:

  • Lawyers with a few years (e.g. around three years) experience in law firms, who are interested in broadening their career in a different type of working environment, or
  • More experienced lawyers who may be interested in a permanent, part time role that has great flexibility.

As a Legal Counsel across Te Rūnanga Group, you will be responsible for providing advice to all parts of our group. This includes:

  • Ngāi Tahu Holdings Group which has a diverse portfolio of commercial entities and activities;
  • Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu who:
    • distribute tribal funds to assist Ngāi Tahu iwi members achieve better outcomes
    • engage with the Crown and external parties to advance Ngāi Tahu views, rights and interests
  • The eighteen Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga who have an extensive range of activities and entities

We are looking for a professional and pragmatic individual with:

  • A Bachelor of Laws, and entitlement to hold a New Zealand Practicing Certification / Admission as a Barrister and Solicitor High Court New Zealand
  • A minimum of 3 years' experience as a practising lawyer with commercial or property law favoured
  • An open minded approach and ability to work with a diverse range of people and situations
  • An ability to work constructively within a small in-house team
  • Strong legal analysis skills, and the ability to compile legal documents for clients
  • A passion to work and engage with Papatipu Rūnanga and Ngāi Tahu whānau

The successful applicant will have a strong affinity for the needs and aspirations of our ultimate stakeholders, Ngāi Tahu whānui. Alongside this, they will have an understanding of, or an eagerness to, learn and engage with Ngāi Tahu values and te reo Māori.

Mō mātou - About us

The Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is a dynamic organisation that exists to ensure that the benefits of the Settlement are enjoyed by Ngāi Tahu Whānui now and for future generations "Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei" (for us and our children after us).

We pride ourselves on being a values-led organisation, investing in the professional and cultural development of our kaimahi (employees). You will have a unique opportunity to strengthen your understanding of te reo Māori and tikanga. We offer a supportive, dynamic and excellence driven workplace where we embrace diversity and inclusion. As a flexible employer we are happy to discuss options that may work for you and the business to support a work-life balance and the needs of your whānau.

Want to know more? You can find the position description below, or for confidential enquiries please contact Chris Ford at Chris.Ford@ngaitahu.iwi.nz.

Apply now - nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai!

Job Details

Reference #
34336

Business areas
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Posted on
Thursday 21 Aug 2025

Closes on
07 Sep 2025 23:55

Expertise
Legal

Work type(s)
Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Apply
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