He korowai tika tangata*
Michael is an experienced litigator, having worked extensively in New Zealand and abroad since his admission in 2000. In New Zealand, he has worked at top law firms, for government and as a statutory appointee bringing civil litigation in the public interest. He is a skilled advocate, having appeared in the courts and specialist tribunals on a range of matters. He is an established expert in international public law, human rights and humanitarian law, amongst other areas.
Michael began his career in Auckland working in commercial law firms. After five years, he went overseas, working in diverse locations with the United Nations, non-governmental organisations and in academia. These ranged from Washington, DC, to Peshawar, Pakistan. During that time, he also completed a Master of Laws in the United States, at the University of Michigan, with a focus on international law.
In March 2019, Michael was appointed the Director of Human Rights Proceedings in New Zealand. This is a statutory appointment, requiring expertise in domestic human rights and privacy law. In this role, he took litigation on behalf of the public interest, including several important sexual harassment matters, privacy cases and strategic constitutional litigation against the Crown.
Michael joined Sangro Chambers in October 2024, and is available for instruction in general civil matters, but particularly in the areas of: public law (including judicial review), human rights / Bill of Rights, privacy, extradition, and employment.
Michael is also available for international consultancies with international and non-governmental organisations in the areas of capacity building, international law (human rights and refugee law) and rule of law concerns.
[* The cloak of protection. Sincere thanks to Hēmi Pirihi for suggesting this whakataukī, reflecting Michael’s work to date.]
“Dignity: More Pathways to Human Rights Protection?” (forthcoming) New Zealand Women’s Law Journal 2024 (co-authored piece)
“In Search of Good Faith” (2000) Auck. U. Law Review 300
Michigan Grotius Fellow (2007)
Michigan Program in Refugee and Asylum Law Fellow: Human Rights Watch, Washington DC. (2008)
University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, Visiting Professor (2014)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Expert in Refugee Status Determination, Pakistan (2014)
Appointed Director of Human Rights Proceedings (2019)
“Taking proceedings in the Human Rights Review Tribunal” (with Nura Taefi), NZLS Employment Law Conference (2020)
Hoban v Attorney-General [2022] NZHC 3235: claim challenging the omission of sexual orientation as a ground of hate speech protection.
Greenslade v Commissioner of Police [2023] NZHC 717; (2023) 13 HRNZ 902: disability discrimination claim of Police College recruitment process (pre-employment discrimination).
Director of Human Rights Proceedings v Netsafe Inc [2022] NZHRRT 15: Privacy claim against Netsafe for disclosure of information through the Harmful Digital Communications Act complaints process (as instructing solicitor).
Thompson v Van Wijk [2021] NZHRRT 39: sexual harassment claim. Highest damages confirmed for that type of claim (as instructing solicitor).
Director of Human Rights Proceedings v Attorney-General [2020] NZHRRT 45: Privacy claim against Police for failure to take reasonable steps to assess accuracy of information (IPP 8).
Diamond Laser Medispa Taupo v Human Rights Review Tribunal [2020] NZCA 437; (2020) 17 NZELR 569: judicial review of Tribunal’s decision not to strike out a claim (as instructing solicitor).
Radhi v District Court at Manukau [2017] NZSC 198; [2018] 1 NZLR 480: extradition matter regarding Australia’s policy of indefinite detention and link to NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990 right not to be arbitrarily detained (assisting Ron Mansfield)
He korowai tika tangata*
Michael is an experienced litigator, having worked extensively in New Zealand and abroad since his admission in 2000. In New Zealand, he has worked at top law firms, for government and as a statutory appointee bringing civil litigation in the public interest. He is a skilled advocate, having appeared in the courts and specialist tribunals on a range of matters. He is an established expert in international public law, human rights and humanitarian law, amongst other areas.
Michael began his career in Auckland working in commercial law firms. After five years, he went overseas, working in diverse locations with the United Nations, non-governmental organisations and in academia. These ranged from Washington, DC, to Peshawar, Pakistan. During that time, he also completed a Master of Laws in the United States, at the University of Michigan, with a focus on international law.
In March 2019, Michael was appointed the Director of Human Rights Proceedings in New Zealand. This is a statutory appointment, requiring expertise in domestic human rights and privacy law. In this role, he took litigation on behalf of the public interest, including several important sexual harassment matters, privacy cases and strategic constitutional litigation against the Crown.
Michael joined Sangro Chambers in October 2024, and is available for instruction in general civil matters, but particularly in the areas of: public law (including judicial review), human rights / Bill of Rights, privacy, extradition, and employment.
Michael is also available for international consultancies with international and non-governmental organisations in the areas of capacity building, international law (human rights and refugee law) and rule of law concerns.
[* The cloak of protection. Sincere thanks to Hēmi Pirihi for suggesting this whakataukī, reflecting Michael’s work to date.]
“Dignity: More Pathways to Human Rights Protection?” (forthcoming) New Zealand Women’s Law Journal 2024 (co-authored piece)
“In Search of Good Faith” (2000) Auck. U. Law Review 300
Michigan Grotius Fellow (2007)
Michigan Program in Refugee and Asylum Law Fellow: Human Rights Watch, Washington DC. (2008)
University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, Visiting Professor (2014)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Expert in Refugee Status Determination, Pakistan (2014)
Appointed Director of Human Rights Proceedings (2019)
“Taking proceedings in the Human Rights Review Tribunal” (with Nura Taefi), NZLS Employment Law Conference (2020)
Hoban v Attorney-General [2022] NZHC 3235: claim challenging the omission of sexual orientation as a ground of hate speech protection.
Greenslade v Commissioner of Police [2023] NZHC 717; (2023) 13 HRNZ 902: disability discrimination claim of Police College recruitment process (pre-employment discrimination).
Director of Human Rights Proceedings v Netsafe Inc [2022] NZHRRT 15: Privacy claim against Netsafe for disclosure of information through the Harmful Digital Communications Act complaints process (as instructing solicitor).
Thompson v Van Wijk [2021] NZHRRT 39: sexual harassment claim. Highest damages confirmed for that type of claim (as instructing solicitor).
Director of Human Rights Proceedings v Attorney-General [2020] NZHRRT 45: Privacy claim against Police for failure to take reasonable steps to assess accuracy of information (IPP 8).
Diamond Laser Medispa Taupo v Human Rights Review Tribunal [2020] NZCA 437; (2020) 17 NZELR 569: judicial review of Tribunal’s decision not to strike out a claim (as instructing solicitor).
Radhi v District Court at Manukau [2017] NZSC 198; [2018] 1 NZLR 480: extradition matter regarding Australia’s policy of indefinite detention and link to NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990 right not to be arbitrarily detained (assisting Ron Mansfield)
