OUR TEAM
A team of experienced lawyers who specialise in the Waitangi Tribunal, Treaty of Waitangi settlement matters, and Maori Land Court/High Court proceedings. Additionally, Tukau has advisory and consultancy roles to government and non-governmental organisations.
SEASON-MARY DOWNS
DIRECTOR
TE KAPOTAI, NGATI HINE, NGAPUHI
Season-Mary was born and raised in Northland and is a Director of Tukau Law. Season-Mary has extensive experience advising and representing whanau, hapu, and iwi clients in Maori legal matters and Treaty of Waitangi claims processes. Season-Mary is an active member of Te Hunga Roia Maori o Aotearoa (Maori Law Society), and a Trustee of the Northland Foundation. Season-Mary has completed her PhD programme at the University of Waikato, the topic of her thesis being “Nga taumata o te moana: Reconciling the governance and ownership of the takutai moana (foreshore and seabed)”. Season-Mary is dedicated to working with whanau, hapu and iwi clients to achieve their long-term aspirations.
PhD, Philosophy (University of Waikato)
LLM, Master of Laws (First Class Hons)
LLB, Bachelor of Laws
BA, Bachelor of Arts
Bar admission 2009
CHELSEA TEREI
DIRECTOR
NGATI TORO, NGATI HAUA, TE RARAWA
Chelsea Terei is from Te Rarawa and is a Director of Tukau Law. Chelsea graduated from the University of Auckland in 2011 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. She was admitted to the Bar in the High Court of Auckland in 2011. Chelsea has assisted a number of whanau, hapu, iwi groups and trusts in the resolution of their legal issues. Chelsea is passionate about helping people with their legal issues.
LLB, Bachelor of Laws
BA, Bachelor of Arts
Bar admission 2011
HEATHER JAMIESON
ASSOCIATE
TUWHAKAIRIORA, NGATI POROU
Heather is of Ngati Porou descent; her hapu is Tuwhakairiora. She is a solicitor of Tukau Law. Heather graduated from the University of Waikato in 2013 with a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours. She was admitted to the bar in the Gisborne High Court in May 2014. Heather has worked primarily on Maori legal matters since beginning her practice, specifically Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements. Heather is an active member of Te Hunga Roia Maori o Aotearoa (the Maori Law Society). In 2015, she was the Waikato representative on the Executive Committee, as well as the Event Manager for the Hui-a-Tau (Annual Conference), which was held in Waitangi to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the signing of te Tiriti o Waitangi. Prior to studying law, Heather worked as a registrar in the criminal jurisdiction of the Gisborne District/High Courts for nine years.
LLB, Bachelor of Laws (First Class Hons)
Bar admission 2014
MAJKA CHERRINGTON
ASSOCIATE
NGATI TE ARA / NGATI KOPAKI, NGATI HINE
Majka was born and raised in Northland and is of Ngati Hine and Ukrainian descent. Majka attended the University of Waikato and was admitted to the bar in 2016. Before joining Tukau Law in 2021, Majka practised in the areas of family and civil litigation. Majka has a passion for dispute resolution and assisting whanau, hapu and iwi in their claims to the Waitangi Tribunal. Outside mahi, Majka is a mama and co-chairperson on the Board of the Kohanga which her tamariki attend.
LLB, Bachelor of Laws
Bar admission 2016
JESSICA HITA
SOLICITOR
NGAPUHI, NGATI KAHU
Jessica Hita started her legal career at Kahui Legal in 2017 and spent her time working on commercial law, environmental law and Maori land law matters. Following this, Jessica has spent two years working at Waikato-Tainui as an in-house counsel in the Rights and Interest Team working predominantly on Treaty Settlement matters with the focus being to settle the outstanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi grievances and protecting existing Treaty settlement mechanisms. Jessica is of Ngati Kahu and Ngapuhi descent and has a firm passion for the utilisation of Te Reo Maori and Tikanga Maori in the legal space. Her passion lays in the Treaty Settlement Framework, Maori Land Law and Maori and Indigenous Peoples Rights. Jessica is a Mama to two beautiful tamariki, and enjoys spending time at the beach, doing kapa haka and going home to the Far North.
LLB, Bachelor of Laws
Bar admission 2018
TATIJANA SIMON-LARSEN
SOLICITOR
NGATI HINE, NGAPUHI, TAINUI
Tatijana is a born and bred Northlander, and the newest solicitor to join Tukau Law. She graduated from the University of Auckland in early 2022 with a conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts and was admitted to the bar in the Auckland High Court shortly after. Although entering Tukau Law now as a junior lawyer, Tatijana has worked alongside the team over the years within the various facets of Tukau Law, Tukau Community Fund and Tukau Legacy. Alongside this mahi, she completed two research projects for the Faculty of Arts (History) at the University of Auckland, centred on matauranga Maori and historical policies affecting Maori. Tatijana is particularly passionate about legal issues concerning Maori land and rights, having focused her studies on indigenous legal rights matters. She also has a keen interest in utilising and promoting tikanga Maori within the legal sphere.
LLB, Bachelor of Laws
BA, Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations)
Bar admission 2022
Ashley wehi te ringitanga
SOLICITOR
te atiawa, tainui, ngati maniapoto, te arawa
Ashley was the first in her whānau to bring home a university degree setting trails for generations to come. Completing her Bachelor of Laws in 2022 at The University of Auckland. Ashley is set to commence her Master of Law with The University of Auckland, which she hopes to use her learnings to improve access to the justice system for Māori and Pacific peoples.
Ashley is a Prime Ministers scholar, who participated in an overseas program in Brazil which focused on indigenous rights and histories. Ashley worked collaboratively in an international setting towards solutions to real problems faced by indigenous people and studied the impacts of local and governmental, policy and legislation on Indigenous people.
One of Ashley’s favourite whakatauki is “Ehara tāku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini” (My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective”
LLB, Bachelor of Laws
JAYME ARMSTRONG
LEGAL SECRETARY
NGATI HINE, NGATI POROU
Jayme has been with Tukau for four years, initially helping manage the Tukau Legacy Clothing line and various kaupapa within the Tukau Community Fund. She now enjoys being part of the Tukau Law team as a Legal Secretary and Administrative Executive. Jayme’s whakapapa is of Ngati Te Ara, Ngati Te Tarawa, Te Orewai and Ngati Porou descent.
