Tania (TC) Waikato

"After graduating with a conjoint Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Māori) degree I spent two years in the Auckland office of Russell McVeagh working in the Māori Legal and Resource Management teams. I joined Cooney Lees Morgan for the first time in 2004 as a member of the litgation, employment and later resource management teams before heading off to Sydney for a stint at corporate firm Blake Dawson, specialising in mining and planning law.

I later returned to New Zealand and took a break from legal practice during which time I had my son. I worked pro bono for a number of iwi, hapū and charitable organisations and started my own business making Māori medicinal balms which now has stockists throughout New Zealand and exports internationally.

I returned to Cooney Lees Morgan in June 2014 as a member of the Corporate & Commercial team, then the Litigation & Local Government team. I work with an array of organisations ranging from small businesses to large corporates. As the owner of a small business myself and having worked for some of the world’s largest companies, I am uniquely experienced in the issues and legal needs facing businesses of all sizes.

I have a special interest Māori corporate entities and governance and am an active member of my own hapū. I hold a number of voluntary positions including as a representative on the Rangitaiki Hapū Coalition and as one of the inaugural trustees on the Rangitaiki River Environmental Fund Trust, in partnership with Trustpower. I am a keen CrossFitter and enjoy all things water-related including paddling, swimming and the beach. I love the Bay and am glad to be back in Tauranga enjoying the amazing work/life balance that it has to offer."

Biographical sources

• http://www.cooneyleesmorgan.co.nz/tania-waikato 22 November 2011