Barrister

I am a barrister practising in Administrative/Public, Resource Management, and Treaty/Māori law, based in Christchurch.

I provide expert legal advice on complex environmental and natural resources issues, helping communities, organisations, and government understand their rights and responsibilities, and navigate legal challenges.

I have advised governments, private sector organisations, and Indigenous peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia on natural resources, environmental, public, constitutional, Indigenous, and Treaty law and policy matters. I am admitted to practice in New Zealand and Victoroia, Australia and have worked for top tier law firms and as a Principal Lawyer and Policy Executive with Government. I understand the legal and policy concerns of governments, Indigenous peoples, and those who work with them.

My work as a barrister includes legal opinions and advice, law reform and policy analysis, and expert witness work. I am able to act on direct instructions from clients in appropriate circumstances but also take instructions from solicitors throughout New Zealand.

Specialisations

Natural resources law and policy
Indigenous land and resource rights
Cultural heritage law and policy
Water and marine law and policy
Environmental law and policy
Climate law and policy
Governance and policy development
Law reform

Key experience

Expert witness services for resources and conservation litigation in the High Court
Water and climate change law and policy research services for multiple iwi.
In-depth analysis and empirical investigation of legal and policy frameworks determining the allocation and management of water across the world.
Leading major, international, collaborative legal research projects including Riverine Rights: Exploring the Currents and Consequences of Legal Innovations on the Rights of Rivers and Options for Legal and Policy Reform to Enable Ecosystem-Based Marine Management.
Indigenous and natural resource litigation, including appearing in New Zealand’s Waitangi Tribunal and Māori Land Court and as instructing solicitor before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court of Australia.
Managing major law reform projects, including heritage, Indigenous heritage, governance, planning, land and natural resources legislation and drafting and reviewing Indigenous and natural resource policies.
Providing strategic advice to government and Indigenous communities on Indigenous water law and policy drawing on comparative law.
Board and committee governance work.
Teaching Indigenous rights, human rights, environmental law, natural resources law, comparative law, climate change, and land law at the University of Canterbury.
Author of many publications on Indigenous rights, environmental law and natural resource regulation, especially about freshwater and marine resources and areas (see Research).
Strong theoretical and practical understandings of the institutional and corporate structures used by Indigenous peoples in land and resource management and government, together with economic development.
Expert understanding of the legal frameworks governing resource use and management by Indigenous peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and the Americas.
Expert understanding of laws regulating the use of water in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and the Americas.
Substantial experience of and expertise in cross-cultural research methodologies, which involve collaboration, co-design, and engagement with Indigenous peoples.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons), Victoria University of Wellington, 2023
BCA, Victoria University of Wellington, 2022
PhD (Law), University of Melbourne, 2016
Admitted as Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, 2004
Admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner, 2007

Memberships

New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture
Society of Ecological Restoration Australasia legal dimensions group
Advisory Board, Transnational Environmental Law
Editorial Board (Associate Editor) – Aust. Journal of Water Resources
International Academy of Comparative Law
Law and Society Association of Australia
World Commission on Environmental Law
Knowledge Expert, United Nations Harmony with Nature
Advisory Board, Lawrence Anthony Earth Organisation
Advisory Board, Fundacion Ngenko

Awards

2024- NZ Selection, Frontiers Planet Prize (Te Apārangi The Royal Society)
2023- Honourable mention for Best Article Prize, Transnational Environmental Law
2023- Royal Society Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, Blue Carbon Futures in Aotearoa New Zealand: Law, Climate, Resilience
2023- University of Canterbury Advancing Sustainability Research Award
2023- NZ Law Research Foundation Sir Ian Barker Published Article Award
2023- Canterbury Grant Award, Visiting fellowship to Kyoto University (2024)
2021- Royal Society Te Apārangi ECR Excellence Award for Humanities
2020- Law and Society Association of Australia and NZ book awardfor the most outstanding contribution to law and society by an Australian or NZ scholar
2013 - Int. Bar Assoc. Scholarship Energy & Natural Resources Law
2011 - University of Melbourne Human Rights Scholarship

Dr Elizabeth Macpherson

Barrister

Specialisations

Key experience

Qualifications

Memberships

Awards

Contact me

liz@elizabethmacpherson.co.nz

Hours

Drop mea line!

Barrister

Specialisations

Key experience

Qualifications

Memberships

Awards

Contact me

liz@elizabethmacpherson.co.nz

Hours

Drop mea line!

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