Dixon & Co Lawyers

30/03/2026

We are hiring! Want to join a growing team with exciting litigation opportunities in Māori legal issues, family law, and human rights law? Apply now for one of our positions by following the links below:

Junior lawyer:
https://tinyurl.com/Dixon-and-Co-Lawyers

Intermediate lawyer:
https://tinyurl.com/Dixon-and-Co-Lawyers-job

30/03/2026

We were proud to see our colleague Madiha Ali speak at a recent event celebrating the launch of UNHCR in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Speaking in a thoughtful Q&A format, Madiha shared insights from her lived experience as a former refugee, and how that perspective continues to shape her work as a refugee and human rights lawyer. Her reflections were a powerful reminder of the importance of ensuring refugee voices are not only heard, but centred.

It was an inspiring evening bringing together a community committed to recognising the contributions and experiences of former refugees in Aotearoa. We’re grateful to be part of that work, both within and beyond the courtroom.

09/03/2026

We’re delighted to share a recent success for one of our long-standing clients, who was able to sponsor his niece and her husband under the Refugee Family Support Category (Tier 1). After years without any family, our client is thrilled to have his whanau members join him in Aotearoa.

It was a privilege to support them through this journey, from sponsorship through to visas and arrival. Our team is experienced in Refugee Family Support Category applications and we welcome enquiries from families seeking reunification in New Zealand or assistance navigating complementary pathways to resettlement.

If you or someone you know is hoping to bring loved ones to safety, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

25/02/2026

A huge mihi to our incredible summer clerk, Gena Shimoda, for her mahi over the last four weeks. She has been an invaluable asset to our Refugee Law team, assisting Lucy and Madiha across their files.
Best of luck with your last semester at university before beginning your internship with the World Trade Organisation in June. Geneva will be lucky to have you!
Ngā mihi nui e hoa ❤️

01/02/2026

Kia ora e te whānau

A reminder that the deadlines for submissions on RMA reform and Local Government reform are closing soon!

Submissions on RMA reform close on Friday 13 February at 4:30pm. Submissions are combined for the two new proposed Bills (Natural Environment and Planning Bills).
Submit here: https://tinyurl.com/5n7rnyt8

Proposed changes to Local Government, including removing Regional Councils and replacing them with Combined Territorial Boards (CTBs), are receiving submissions. These close on Friday 20 February.
Submit here (either via the form, or upload a written submission): https://consultations.digital.govt.nz/simplifying-local-government/proposal/

Please reach out if you need any assistance – we are happy to help!

15/01/2026

He kuaka mārangaranga, kotahi manu e tau ki te tāhuna, tau atu, tau atu, tau atu.
Dixon & Co are proud to acknowledge the appointment of Alisha Castle to Partner late last year. While a little overdue, it was important for us to properly recognise this milestone.
Alisha has been with DCL since the very beginning, and her depth of knowledge and steady presence makes her a pou in our office. Her leadership reflects her favourite whakataukī above, thoughtful, humble, and inclusive, always bringing others with her, including the iwi she proudly represents (Ngāti Pāoa, Ngaati Te Ata, and Ngāpuhi)!
Ngā mihi nui, Alisha. We are so proud of you.

11/01/2026

Ngā mihi o te wā ki a koutou katoa. As we step into a new work year, we take this opportunity acknowledge an important change to our Dixon & Co whānau.
Partner Amy Chesnutt is pursuing independent practice as a Barrister at Ari Legal. While we will deeply miss her presence, guidance, and unmatched office banter, we are incredibly proud to see her take this next step.
We wish you all the success, Amy. Kei te tautoko mātou i a koe i ngā wā katoa.

31/08/2025

Tēnā koutou!

We're seeking feedback from whānau me ngā uri regarding papakāinga developments. We’re wanting to better understand the papakāinga development process and how DCL can help whānau make this process easier to manage.

We’ve put together a quick survey to gather this information. The survey will be open until Friday 12th September.

Ngā mihi nui for your time.

Please click the link to complete this form.

11/08/2025

One of our brilliant solicitors, Toni Talamaivao, has written a piece for E-Tangata on the impacts that this government's new MACA Bill will have for ngā tangata Māori.

Read her article here:

“They are creating the illusion of a threat to justify passing legislation that would make it incredibly difficult for Māori to have their existing rights recognised.“ — Toni Talamaivao.

24/06/2025

This week, our teammate and colleague Madiha Ali is in Geneva attending the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP).

Madiha serves as an advisor to the Core Group on CRCP, supported by UNHCR. At this week's United Nations press briefing, she shared a powerful testimony about her journey as a refugee, and advocated for more inclusive and effective global resettlement policies.

As a former refugee and now practicing as a refugee and human rights lawyer at DCL, Madiha's message is clear: better systems benefit not only displaced people, but also the communities who welcome them.

We’re proud of the important work Madiha is doing both in her advocacy at a global level and here in Aotearoa as a refugee lawyer. Ka rawe e hoa!

🔗 https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164866

23/06/2025