Employment Court of New Zealand Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa

Auckland barrister and solicitor Merepaia King (Ngāti Māhanga/Ngāti Te Wehi – Tainui) has been appointed as a Judge of the Employment Court to be based in Auckland.

Ms King was admitted in 2005. Her legal career started at Tompkins Wake in Hamilton, where she spent five years in the civil litigation team before joining Kiely, Thompson Caisley in Auckland, becoming a Senior Associate in that firm. In 2015 she joined Buddle Findlay, and was made a Partner in 2021. 

She has specialised in employment and health and safety law, appearing before the Court of Appeal, the Employment Court and the Employment Relations Authority.

On 9 September 2023 the Court celebrated the swearing in of the Court’s first Māori Judge, and 5th female Judge, in the 129 years of the Court’s existence. The swearing in was held on Te Papa-o-Rotu Marae and was attended by the King’s Tumuaki. Judge King’s appointment has been warmly received, including by the profession.