She has been commissioner of Transport Accident Investigation Commission
Judith Collins, attorney-general, has announced the appointment of Bernadette Arapere – a Whanganui barrister, commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, and a deputy chair of the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal – as a judge at the Hastings District Court.
Arapere will be sworn into her new role on 29 November 2025, according to a news release from the government.
She has practised in the areas of public and administrative law, the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori legal issues, whenua and governance matters, and civil litigation.
Arapere has appeared as counsel at all court levels, including the Supreme Court of New Zealand, in the context of judicial review proceedings, appeals, and general litigation matters.
The government’s news release and the new appointee’s profile on Kōkiri Chambers’ website provided more information on her work background, professional memberships, and educational qualifications.
Arapere (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Ngāti Maniapoto) started working in historical research at the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Waitangi Tribunal in 1999.
From the University of Auckland, she obtained her MA (honours) in 1999 and her LLB (honours) in 2005. Also in 2005, she received admission as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
Arapere began practising at Wackrow Williams & Davies Ltd in Auckland in 2005. She worked at that firm for a decade, including as an associate and director.
At that firm, she assisted iwi, hapū, Māori organisations, and private clients before the courts, accepted appointments as counsel acting in complex Māori Land Court proceedings, and handled estates, relationship property, and other property matters.
Arapere served as Crown counsel at the Crown Law Office in Wellington from 2015–21. In this role, she dealt with public law matters, including cases where the government’s activities impacted New Zealanders, natural resources, and the environment.
She earned her Poutuarongo Reo Māori (Bachelor of Te Reo Māori) from Te Wānanga o Raukawa in 2021. She joined the independent bar in 2021 and launched Kōkiri Chambers with Rohario Murray in 2022.
Arapere has been a trustee of Raukawa ki te Tonga Trust and a member of the Legislation Design and Advisory Committee, the Māori Land Court Rules Committee, and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (the Māori Law Society).
She speaks Te Reo Māori and draws from her authentic knowledge of tikanga Māori.
