Mai Chen Barrister
Mai Chen has expertise in arguing important and groundbreaking human rights and constitutional and administrative law cases. She also specialises in regulatory defence, policy and law reform, and advising on culturally and linguistically diverse parties in the courts. Get in touch by calling 021 565 709 or emailing mai.chen@maichen.nz.
Send us a messageMai Chen's top areas of expertise
Mai Chen is one of New Zealand’s top public law experts who specialises in:– Administrative law and Judicial Review;
– Public and Constitutional law;
– Regulatory Defence;
– Treaty of Waitangi;
– Inquiries, Investigations and Reviews;
– NZ Bill of Rights and Human Rights;
– Advising on Litigation involving Culturally and Linguistically Diverse parties;
– Law and Policy Reform; and
– Difficult Employment issues which interface with Public Law.
Superdiversity Training and Coaching
The 2023 Census confirms that the New Zealand population is transforming with almost 1 million people identifying as Māori. Aotearoa is heading towards 30% of the population being superdiverse, meaning those not born in New Zealand. More than half of Auckland’s population is superdiverse, comprising Pacific peoples at 16.6 per cent, Asians at 31.3 per cent and Māori at 12.3 per cent of the total population. Auckland has also been named the Polynesian capital of the world.A superdiversity lens needs to be placed on all business, government, regulatory, education and non-for-profit activities. If you need coaching on how to put a superdiversity framework on your enterprise, whether that be in a business, government, regulatory or non-for-profit capacity, Mai Chen has the expertise to assist. The Royal Commission concluded that “there is a lack of cultural and linguistic competence and a poor understanding of the implications of New Zealand’s increasingly diverse demographics in Public sector agencies”.[1] This quote from the Royal Commission could equally apply to the private sector and non-for-profit agencies.
Mai Chen was the Chair of the Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business and her expertise is reflected in the following reports she has authored:
– “Cultural Capability and Business Success Report: 5 top business leaders making cultural capability a cornerstone of their success” – (Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2022)
– “Culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse parties in the Courts: a Chinese case study” (Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2019)
– “National Culture and its Impact on Workplace Health and Safety and Injury Prevention for Employers and Workers” Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2019)
– “Health and safety regulators in a superdiverse context: Review of challenges and lessons from United Kingdom, Canada and Australia” (Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2018)
– “Diverse Thinking Capability Audit of New Zealand Boardrooms 2018” (Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2018)
– “The Diversity Matrix: Updating What Diversity Means For Discrimination Laws in the 21st Century” (Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business, 2017)
– “Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government and New Zealand” (Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business, 2015)
– “Superdiversity, Democracy & New Zealand’s Electoral & Referenda Laws” (Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business, 2015)
She also created the CQ Tick for cultural capability and has trained and advised a diverse range of organisations including the Ministry of Transport, Department of Corrections, National Emergency Management Agency, Tenancy Services, nib (health insurer) and more.
[1] Ko tō tātou kāinga tēnei: Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019 (26 November 2020) at 159.
My professional career has focused on promoting and upholding the Rule of Law – that we are all equal before the law and should be able to get equal access to the law.
Employed barristers
Caleb is a barrister employed by Mai Chen advising across a wide range of public law issues. He has particular expertise at the commercial/regulatory interface with public law.Caleb also has experience in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, commercial/regulatory advice and disputes, Overseas Investment Act, parliament and law reform, administrative law and judicial review. Caleb has appeared as junior counsel in the High Court.
