Ngāti Porou
Luke is an Intermediate Crown Prosecutor who represents the Crown in the prosecution of serious crime. He regularly appears in the District and High Courts, including the Youth Court, the Young Adults List, and the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Court. Luke has conducted numerous jury trials involving allegations of sexual offending including multi-complainant and historic offending, serious violence including family violence, and dishonesty and drug-related offending. In addition to trial work, he provides advice to enforcement agencies and Crown entities on complex legal and evidential matters.
Luke is an experienced litigator with a background in both criminal and public law. Before joining LCC, he worked on an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry. Prior to returning home, he spent several years in the United Kingdom where he held public law roles within central government, regulatory agencies, and professional practice — including advising financial and energy regulators.
He began his legal career as a criminal defence lawyer in Manukau and previously practised in family law in Hamilton.
Luke has a particular interest in the intersection of tikanga Māori and the law, and provides tailored advice on tikanga-based approaches in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. His experience includes working as a cultural advisor across the UK and Europe, including to the New Zealand High Commissions and Embassies, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the British High Commission in Aotearoa.
Fluent in te reo Māori, Luke was raised through Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, and Kura Paerangi - Te Aute College Māori Boarding School. He maintains strong connections to kaupapa Māori through kapa haka Hikurangi Pariha, performing regularly at regional and national level, including Tamararo and Te Matatini. He is a member of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and the Māori Prosecutors’ Rōpū and a board member on the Wellington and Hutt Valley Community Law Centre.
Recent and notable work:
Currently co-leading the delivery of the Crown Law Solicitor-General’s Guidelines training, focusing on te ao Māori and tikanga Māori, alongside consultancy firm Kawea (2025).
Lead community engagements and stakeholder interviews as part of the Ministry of Education review of the Sensitive Claims Process, in partnership with Tūhono/ Laidlaw (June-August 2024).
Tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori
Presented at the NZCLE In Short Seminar on the paper titled He Pae Tata – Te Reo Māori for Litigators (April 2025).
Presented at the NZCLE Litigation Skills Workshop on the topic Te Reo Māori / Tikanga Māori and the Courts (October 2024).
On behalf of the Māori Prosecutors’ Rōpū, led the delivery of Crown Law training on Tikanga Māori and the Law, and Māori and the Criminal Justice System (July–August 2024).
Abuse in Care
Led survivors’ evidence as counsel assisting, in both te reo Māori and English, at the Māori Hearing of the Abuse in Care Inquiry held at Ōrākei Marae (March 2022).
Interviewed survivors at Remutaka, Tongariro, Waikeria, Spring Hill, and Pāremoremo prisons.
Led community engagement hui for the Inquiry in Te Tai Rāwhiti, Motupōhue (Bluff), and Ōtākou (Otago).