They take the places of Dr Paul Hamer and Basil Morrison, respectively
Former Chapman Tripp chief executive partner Nick Wells and former Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri chair Rick Witana have joined the Waitangi Tribunal.
Wells and Witana will take the places of Dr Paul Hamer and Basil Morrison, respectively. Hamer had been on the tribunal for six years, while Morrison served for 18 years.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka confirmed that Hamer and Morrison would stay with their current panels until the inquiries are concluded.
“Mr Wells and Mr Witana bring a breadth of experience across governance, law, Iwi leadership, public policy and Crown–Māori relationships that will further support the Tribunal’s work”, Potaka said in the government’s media release.
In addition to leading Chapman Tripp, where he spent two decades, for a time as CEP until 2021, Wells founded and spearheaded the firm’s Māori legal group Te Waka Ture. He then became a consultant with the firm until 2023, according to LinkedIn.
He went on to chair Kaikohe Berryfruit and Ngāpuhi Asset Holding Company Limited in May 2023 - both roles he continues to hold. He also chairs the board of trustees at UNICEF Aotearoa.
Wells was chair of the nominating committee for the Guardians at the NZ Super Fund and independent establishment chair of Māui Toa GP Limited, a Māori-founded fund for Māori in venture capital. He served as the independent expert to the Commerce Select Committee in relation to New Zealand’s Limited Partnership law.
He was an adjunct professor at the University of Auckland Law School, teaching the iwi governance courses at undergraduate and masters’ levels. He was on the member treaty settlement team of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
Previously, Wells was an associate counsel with Mobil Oil before he logged stints at Russell McVeagh and Gilbert + Tobin, making partner at both law firms. He was treasurer at the New Zealand Private Equity & Venture Capital Association and director at Magellan Capital.
He will serve on the Waitangi Tribunal for three years.
Witana has significant Iwi representation, public policy and Crown–Māori engagement experience. In addition to chairing Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, he once chaired the Te Hiku Iwi Development Trust.
He has taken on senior Māori relations and public sector roles and is a seasoned Māori governance leader. He will sit on the Waitangi Tribunal for three years.
