CPD Points: 1
Starts: 1:00pm Thursday, 23 Apr 2026
Ends: 2:00pm Thursday, 23 Apr 2026
Location: Online
View MapGroup Pricing 10-15: $650.00
Group Pricing 3-4: $250.00
Group Pricing 5-9: $400.00
Member Ticket: $0.00 Members Free
Non-Member Ticket: $85.00
This webinar provides a practical, essentials‑level introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi, focused on what advocates need to understand when appearing in court and engaging with dispute resolution in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Designed for practitioners who want a clearer grounding and understanding of Te Tiriti - without assumptions of prior knowledge.
This webinar is suitable for junior and intermediate practitioners, as well as any counsel seeking a clearer, practical understanding of Te Tiriti. It is also suitable for those looking for a refresher.
The webinar will cover the following essentials:
- The differences between Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi, including the three articles and what they mean.
- The relevance of the Treaty in our law, including recent case law.
- An exploration and explanation of the “principles” of the Treaty and their relevance of advocacy.
Event Speakers
Karen Feint KC
Karen is a highly experienced advocate who takes a principled but pragmatic approach to securing the right outcome for her clients. She has a wide-ranging civil litigation and public law practice, with particular expertise at the interface of Crown and Māori relations - constitutional law, judicial review, equity, indigenous rights, and te Tiriti o Waitangi law. Karen has appeared as counsel before all levels of the New Zealand courts and in specialist jurisdictions such as the Waitangi Tribunal. She was counsel in the long running Wakatū & Stafford litigation against the Crown that was finally resolved in 2025.
Karen was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2019. She has been a barrister at Thorndon Chambers for over 15 years. She has a BA/ LLB (First Class Honours) from the University of Otago, and a LLM from the University of Toronto, Canada.
Karen is a highly experienced advocate who takes a principled but pragmatic approach to securing the right outcome for her clients. She has a wide-ranging civil litigation and public law practice, with particular expertise at the interface of Crown and Māori relations - constitutional law, judicial review, equity, indigenous rights, and te Tiriti o Waitangi law. Karen has appeared as counsel before all levels of the New Zealand courts and in specialist jurisdictions such as the Waitangi Tribunal. She was counsel in the long running Wakatū & Stafford litigation against the Crown that was finally resolved in 2025.
Karen was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2019. She has been a barrister at Thorndon Chambers for over 15 years. She has a BA/ LLB (First Class Honours) from the University of Otago, and a LLM from the University of Toronto, Canada.
Natalie Coates
He uri nō Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Hine, Tῡwharetoa, Te Whānau a Apanui, Tῡhourangi.
Natalie specialises in public and administrative law, Māori legal issues broadly, human rights, Māori land, multi-party negotiations in Treaty of Waitangi settlements, trust and governance matters. Natalie is a leading expert in the intersection between tikanga and the common law and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Natalie has appeared as counsel in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Environment Court, Māori Land Court and the Waitangi Tribunal.
Natalie is a barrister at Thorndon Chambers. She was previously a partner at Kāhui Legal and law lecturer at the University of Auckland. Natalie sits in various representative roles including on the NZ Council of Legal Education and the NZ Council of Law Reporting and she was the Co-President of Te Hunga Roia Māori, the Māori Law Society. She has a BA (First Class Hons) / LLB (First Class Hon) from the University of Otago, and a LLM from Harvard University.
He uri nō Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Hine, Tῡwharetoa, Te Whānau a Apanui, Tῡhourangi.
Natalie specialises in public and administrative law, Māori legal issues broadly, human rights, Māori land, multi-party negotiations in Treaty of Waitangi settlements, trust and governance matters. Natalie is a leading expert in the intersection between tikanga and the common law and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Natalie has appeared as counsel in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Environment Court, Māori Land Court and the Waitangi Tribunal.
Natalie is a barrister at Thorndon Chambers. She was previously a partner at Kāhui Legal and law lecturer at the University of Auckland. Natalie sits in various representative roles including on the NZ Council of Legal Education and the NZ Council of Law Reporting and she was the Co-President of Te Hunga Roia Māori, the Māori Law Society. She has a BA (First Class Hons) / LLB (First Class Hon) from the University of Otago, and a LLM from Harvard University.
Damian Chesterman (Chair)
Damian is a commercial and civil barrister and arbitrator with a broad practice based in Auckland at FortyEight Shortland Chambers. For over 15 years Damian has represented Iwi, Hapu, Trusts and individuals in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Maori Land Court. Damian was lead counsel in case for an ahu whenua trust which addressed duties of trustees of Ahu Whenua Trusts, tikanga and mana whenua issues (Kusabs v Staite [2023] 2 NZLR 144). Damian represents a North Island Iwi in a claim seeking to set aside a Treaty Settlement. Damian presented at AMINZ annual conferences (2019, 2021) on the use of arbitration for addressing disputes impacting Maori under TTWMA, the Trusts Act and the Treaty.
Damian’s qualifications include an LLM (Hons) from the University of Cambridge, England; an LLB with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato; a B.Com from University of Auckland; New Zealand’s highest qualification in arbitration (FAMINZ (Arb)); admission to the New York Bar and admissions in Australia, England and New Zealand.
Damian will chair this webinar.
Damian is a commercial and civil barrister and arbitrator with a broad practice based in Auckland at FortyEight Shortland Chambers. For over 15 years Damian has represented Iwi, Hapu, Trusts and individuals in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Maori Land Court. Damian was lead counsel in case for an ahu whenua trust which addressed duties of trustees of Ahu Whenua Trusts, tikanga and mana whenua issues (Kusabs v Staite [2023] 2 NZLR 144). Damian represents a North Island Iwi in a claim seeking to set aside a Treaty Settlement. Damian presented at AMINZ annual conferences (2019, 2021) on the use of arbitration for addressing disputes impacting Maori under TTWMA, the Trusts Act and the Treaty.
Damian’s qualifications include an LLM (Hons) from the University of Cambridge, England; an LLB with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato; a B.Com from University of Auckland; New Zealand’s highest qualification in arbitration (FAMINZ (Arb)); admission to the New York Bar and admissions in Australia, England and New Zealand.
Damian will chair this webinar.