Matewai Tukapua

He uri ahau nō Muaūpoko, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Taranaki Tūturu me Ngāti Kahungunu

Ko Matewai Tukapua tōku ingoa.

I am a Barrister specialising in Public Law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori legal issues. I have a particular interest in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Waitangi Tribunal and issues relating to te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Crown/Māori relationship.

My experience includes representing and advising clients on matters relating to te Tiriti o Waitangi, including the settlement of historical Treaty claims against the Crown, and acting for clients with claims in the Waitangi Tribunal and in other proceedings. I aim to provide clients with a unique service that is tailored to their needs and solutions-focussed.

I am based in Wellington but available to assist with your legal issues wherever you may be located.

Matewai is a graduate of Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Law (2006).

In 2007 Matewai commenced legal practice as a lawyer at Manatū Taonga- the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. At Manatū Taonga she gained experience providing legal advice to internal clients on a range of legal issues including legislation and policy development, commercial law, and Treaty of Waitangi settlements. Her time at Manatū Taonga also included a secondment as a policy analyst. From 2015 to 2019 Matewai worked at the law firm Kāhui Legal where she represented iwi, hapū and Māori organisations in the Waitangi Tribunal, Māori Land Court and High Court and provided advice to clients on a range of areas, including Treaty settlement negotiations, whenua Māori, trusts and governance, and commercial issues. Most recently Matewai worked as a Crown Counsel in the Crown Law Office where she gained further experience particularly in the Waitangi Tribunal, acting for the Crown in a number of Kaupapa inquiries and urgent inquiries, including the Mana Wahine and Housing Kaupapa inquiries.