The New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture (NZBA) is a voluntary organisation for barristers. We provide our member barristers with training, collegial events, networking opportunities, advice about practising at the bar and member benefits. 

  • We are not the regulator for the legal profession. All questions about lawyers' performance and complaints should be directed to the New Zealand Law Society.
  • We also do not provide legal advice or referrals to lawyers. If you want to know more about legal representation, visit this page

We are a non-profit incorporated society. Under our Rules of Association, the general functions of the NZBA are to:

  • promote and encourage a strong and independent bar;
  • promote the interests of barristers and the separate independent bar, and the interests of the public in relation to legal representation and the operation of the judicial system generally;
  • preserve and maintain the independence and integrity of barristers;
  • promote and encourage a high standard of ethical conduct amongst barristers;
  • preserve and maintain the independence and integrity of the judiciary;
  • promote and encourage a high standard of legal representation and advocacy;
  • promote opportunities for the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge of the law, legal procedure, advocacy, and the conduct of litigation;
  • promote improved access to the courts and to justice for all persons;
  • assist in and promote the reform of the law and legal procedure;
  • discourage and eliminate any form of discrimination among or against barristers of the separate independent bar;
  • provide assistance and encouragement to barristers at the commencement of their practice at the separate independent bar;
  • provide means for the amicable and expeditious settlement of differences between barristers, and between barristers and solicitors.

The Council

Council Meeting Dates 2025

  • 20 March: in-person - Auckland
  • 12 June: online
  • 4 September: in-person - Auckland 
  • 2 October: online
  • 27 November: in-person (location TBA)

Council Members

1 October 2023 - 30 September 2025

President     Paul David KC     Auckland
Past President   Maria Dew KC Auckland
Council Members Kellie Arthur (Vice President) Auckland
  John Billington KC Auckland
  Gowan Duff Auckland
  Sarah Jerebine Auckland
  Iswari (Ish) Jayanandan     Auckland
  Stephen Layburn    Auckland
  Rachael Reed KC Auckland
  Phillip Cornegé Waikato/BOP
  Genevieve Haszard (Vice President) Waikato/BOP
  Tiho Mijatov (Vice President) Wellington
  Victoria Casey KC Wellington
  Tim Stephens KC Wellington
  Richard Raymond KC (Vice President) Canterbury
  Richard McGuire  (Associate) Canterbury
  Savanna Gaskell  Otago/Southland

 

International Affiliations

The New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture holds memberships with the following organistions:

The International Bar Association and it's Bar Issues Commission, which supports the interests of the IBA’s member organisations. This includes arranging events to discuss issues that affect the legal profession globally; working groups that develop resources and guidelines for bar associations and a Policy Committee advising IBA Council on key IBA resolutions and statements.
More Information


The International Council of Advocates and Barristers (ICAB). The New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture is a signatory of the Edinburgh Declaration, which contains a series of resolutions defending the independence of the courts and the legal profession across the world.

ICAB

The Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration. The AIJA is a research and educational institute which has been in existence since 1976.

AIJA 

AIJA Publications

Past Presidents

 

Oct 2022 – Sep 2024 Maria Dew KC
Oct 2020 – Sep 2022 Paul Radich QC
Oct 2018 – Sep 2020 Kate Davenport QC
Apr 2016 – Sep 2018 Clive Elliott QC
Oct 2014 – Mar 2016 Paul Mabey QC
Oct 2012 – Sep 2014  Stephen Mills QC
Oct 2010 – Sep 2012 Miriam Dean QC
Oct 2008 – Sep 2010 Colin Carruthers QC
Oct 2004 – Sep 2008 Jim Farmer QC
Oct 2002 – Sep 2004 Robert Dobson QC
Mar 2000 – Sep 2002 Stuart Grieve QC
Sep 1998 – Feb 2000 Stuart Grieve QC
Mar 1998 – Aug 1998 John Wild QC
Mar 1996 – Feb 1998 Raynor Asher QC
Mar 1994 – Feb 1996 Julian Miles QC
Mar 1992 – Feb 1994 Jim Farmer QC
1990 – 1992 Jim Farmer QC
Jun 1989 – 1990 Ted Thomas QC