Our People
Robyn Zwaan
Charlotte Shade
Charlotte Shade
Tumuaki (Director)
LLB / BA
Robyn works in the Waitangi Tribunal, and in family and criminal law and has experience in civil matters.
Robyn is a legal aid provider in Waitangi Tribunal, civil, family, and criminal (PAL 1).
Robyn studied at Victoria University of Wellington and grew up in Thames, Coromandel, and has Dutch ancestry.
Robyn uses she and her pronouns.
Charlotte Shade
Charlotte Shade
Charlotte Shade
Tumuaki (Director)
LLB / BA Hons
Charlotte works primarily in criminal and family law. She has also worked on employment disputes and other civil matters.
She is a legal aid provider for criminal (PAL 1 / Parole), family, and civil (supervised) matters.
Charlotte studied at Victoria University of Wellington. She grew up in Whakatū (Nelson) and has German and British ancestry.
Charlotte uses she and her pronouns.
Emma White
Charlotte Shade
Steph Alexander
Kaiwhakahaere
(Practice Manager)
Emma coordinates the every-day running of Te Aro Law, supporting both staff and clients.
Emma’s background is in community and crisis work, primarily supporting women faced with domestic and/or sexual violence.
Emma grew up in Porirua and has Irish and English ancestry.
Emma uses she and her pronouns.
Steph Alexander
Steph Alexander
Steph Alexander
Rōia (Lawyer)
LLB / BA
Steph works primarily in family and criminal law. She also works in the Waitangi Tribunal.
Steph is a legal aid provider in criminal matters (PAL 1 / Parole), and a supervised legal aid provider in family, civil and Waitangi Tribunal matters.
Steph studied at Victoria University of Wellington. She grew up in Upper Hutt and has British and Māori (Iwi: Taranaki, Hapu: Ngāti Haupoto) ancestry.
Steph uses she and her pronouns.
Helen Curtis
Steph Alexander
Helen Curtis
Rōia (Lawyer)
LLB Hons / BMSC
Helen works primarily in family and criminal law. She also works in the Waitangi Tribunal.
Helen is a legal aid provider in criminal (PAL 1 / Parole) and family matters, and a supervised legal aid provider in civil and Waitangi Tribunal matters.
Helen studied at Victoria University of Wellington. She grew up in Tauranga and has British ancestry.
Helen uses she and her pronouns.
Ainslie Teki
Steph Alexander
Helen Curtis
Rōia (Lawyer)
LLB / BA
Ainslie works primarily in family, criminal and civil law. She also works in the Waitangi Tribunal.
Ainslie is a supervised legal aid provider in criminal, family, civil, parole and Waitangi Tribunal matters.
Ainslie studied at Victoria University of Wellington and grew up in Tauranga. She is of Pākehā and Māori descent, her iwi are Ngā Rauru & Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi.
Ainslie uses she and her pronouns.
Matt Taylor
Agnes Lavea Levi
Agnes Lavea Levi
Rōia (Lawyer)
LLB / BA
Matt works across family, property, mental health, criminal and civil law.
Matt is a legal aid provider for family and mental health matters, and a supervised legal aid provider for criminal and civil matters.
Matt is a member of the Family and Property Law Sections of the New Zealand Law Society, and is on the Wellington Family Court Association committee.
Matt studied at the University of Canterbury and grew up in Ōtautahi Christchurch. He is of Pākehā descent and has British ancestry.
Matt uses he and him pronouns.
Agnes Lavea Levi
Agnes Lavea Levi
Agnes Lavea Levi
Rōia (Lawyer)
LLB / BA
agnes.lavea-levi@tearolaw.com
Agnes works primarily in family, criminal and civil law. She also works in the Waitangi Tribunal.
Agnes is a legal aid provider in family law, and supervised legal aid provider in criminal, parole, civil, and Waitangi Tribunal matters.
Agnes studied at the University of Otago in Dunedin and grew up throughout Aotearoa in Dunedin, Canterbury, Waikato and Auckland. She is of Samoan heritage and her villages are Faleapuna, Faleasi'u, Safotu and Papa Sataua.
Agnes uses she and her pronouns.