Our People

 Tumuaki (Director) 

LLB / BA (Hons) 

charlotte.shade@tearolaw.com

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.

Tumuaki (Director)

LLB / BA 

robyn.zwaan@tearolaw.com

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.

Tumuaki (Director)

LLB Hons / BMSC

helen.curtis@tearolaw.com

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.

Kaiwhakahaere (Practice Manager)
kara.pennington@tearolaw.com

Kara coordinates the every-day running of Te Aro Law, supporting both staff and clients.

Kara’s background is in the community and social sector, working for organisations with social justice objectives.

Kara studied at Victoria University, she grew up in Taranaki and has German, Scottish, and English ancestry.

Kara uses she and her pronouns. 

Rōia (Lawyer)

LLB / BA

ainslie.teki@tearolaw.com

Ainslie works primarily in family, criminal and civil law. She also works in the Waitangi Tribunal. 

Ainslie is a legal aid provider (PAL1) in criminal matters and a supervised legal aid provider in family, civil, parole, mental health 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.

Rōia (Lawyer)

LLB / BA

matt.taylor@tearolaw.com

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.

Rōia (Lawyer) 

LLB (Hons) / BA
ania.roznawska@tearolaw.com
 

Ania works primarily in criminal, family and civil law. Her previous experience is in civil litigation, with a focus in local government, debt recovery and corporate insolvency.

Ania is a supervised legal aid provider in criminal, parole, mental health, family, civil, and Waitangi Tribunal matters. 

Ania studied at Victoria University of Wellington.  She grew up in Hamilton after moving from Poland at age 1, together with her family.

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. 

Rōia (Lawyer)

LLB

maia.whitaker@tearolaw.com

Māia works primarily in family and criminal law. She has also worked on property and employment matters.

Māia is a supervised legal aid provider in criminal, parole, family, civil, mental health and Waitangi Tribunal matters.

Māia grew up and studied in Wellington. She is of mixed European descent.

Māia uses she and her pronouns