Our Profession · Our People
Top court celebrates 10 years The Supreme Court celebrated its 10th anniversary on 2 July. The Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias, hosted a gathering at the court to mark this milestone. Among those present were Margaret Wilson – the Attorney-General at the time the Supreme Court was established – the present Attorney-General Chris Finlayson, Justice Minister Judith Collins, Courts Minister Chester Borrows, Solicitor-General Mike Heron QC and the Supreme Court judges. Sir Ivor Richardson, who was on the
ministerial working group which led to the establishment of the Supreme Court, and Sir Thomas Eichelbaum were among the others who attended. The Council of Law Reporting and LexisNexis presented the court with the new Supreme Court Law Reports. This was the launch of the series. Peter Jenkin QC, on behalf of the Council of Law Reporting, gave a short introduction and the Chief Justice spoke. In her address, she commented on the importance of marking the Supreme Court’s 10th anniversary by having its own reports.
At the Supreme Court’s 10th anniversary celebration Peter Jenkin QC (left), the Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias and John Van Rooyen from LexisNexis.
Lawyers enjoy ability to move between worlds By Rachael Breckon Enterprise Law is a niche law firm, a general law firm and, concurrently, aids the sustainable development of te ao Māori in a post-settlement environment. Recently shifted from Albert Street in Central Auckland to Takapuna on the North Shore, Enterprise Law has successfully worked within this unique and multi-dimensional structure for three years and has a diverse and wide client base that moves from the niche areas of sport, entertainment and trade law to advising large post-settlement Māori businesses. The small firm is comprised of principal Michael Taia, consultant Anthony Ruakere, senior associate Dave Kapa, associate Eddie Taia and solicitor Savannah Petero. Their combined work experience includes Russell McVeagh, DLA Phillips Fox and Freshfields (London). Mr Ruakere specialises in sports law, and is a former athlete manager and in-house lawyer for sports management company Esportif International. For him, the firm allows him to move between his enthusiasm for sport as well as allowing him to utilise his experience and knowledge in Māori land, the Treaty of Waitangi, settlement negotiation, post settlement governance and management arrangements to benefit Māori development during what is a dramatic period of
The Enterprise Law team (from left) Eddie Taia (associate), Michael Taia (principal), Anthony Ruakere (consultant), Dave Kapa (senior associate) and Savannah Petero (solicitor).
economic change. Although Māori are extremely successful in the sports and entertainment industries, Mr Ruakere says it is “through personal interest and experience that I work in those areas, not necessarily because of Māori prominence in sport and entertainment” and the firm’s ethnically diverse client base reflects that. Mr Ruakere wanted to continue with the niche area of sports law, and his colleagues, entertainment law and trade law. It is, in fact, the trade area of specialisation, in particular international trade, where the firm is seeing the most significant and visible engagement with te ao Māori. “[Māori] are moving away from the domination of the last three decades by Waitangi Tribunal hearings and more latterly, the Crown settlement process, to the maximisation of cultural and economic benefits that flow from those settlements. [Enterprise Law aims] to provide an effective interface between the beneficiaries of settlements, governance and management entities, Crown entities and private enterprise, both here and abroad,” Mr Ruakere says. “The need for settlement based groups to seek trade advice domestically and
internationally is an expression of the growth of te ao Māori.” Mr Ruakere illustrates the intersection and benefit of incorporating principles of te ao Māori into international trade through a recent delegation (led by Minister Pita Sharples) to Malaysia, which he was part of. It aimed at fostering business links between Māori and Malaysia. “One of the mantras that Minister Sharples used at length on the delegation and which we at Enterprise Law have largely adopted is: ‘if you get the relationship right then the business will follow’,” Mr Ruakere says. The delegation was able to forge strong relationships in Malaysia, which Mr Ruakere believes has contributed to the business successes which followed the March delegation. “Employing concepts of karakia, mihi and waiata within the context of doing business was very empowering. Whakawhanaungatanga, or the establishment of kin relationships with Malaysian business delegates, empowered both parties equally and allowed business relationships to begin on the right foot. The evidence following the delegation is that this trend has continued,” Mr Ruakere says. LawTalk 846 · 18 July 2014 ·
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