Nick Whittington

Nick is a compelling courtroom advocate and an excellent strategic thinker.

Nick has a broad litigation and advisory practice in public (including judicial review), local government, resource management, regulatory, and commercial law.  He acts for various local and central government entities to resolve novel or complex problems and to defend them in litigation. 

Nick is sought out for advice by judicial and statutory decision-makers to assist them to make lawful decisions, with appointments as amicus curiae to the Court of Appeal, and as counsel assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Masjidain on 15 March 2019 and the Coronial Inquest into deaths following the Auckland Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. 

Before joining the independent bar, Nick was a partner at Meredith Connell, where he focused on local government, resource management, and regulatory enforcement.  As a criminal jury trial prosecutor, Nick led High Court and District Court jury trials. He continues to both prosecute and defend regulatory enforcement proceedings.  He has extensive experience in leading evidence and cross-examination in civil and criminal cases in the High Court and District Court. He is a co-author of Mahoney on Evidence.

Nick has particular interest and expertise in law reform, and has assisted central government agencies to guide and prepare for proposed law reform and policy development.  He is presently the Convenor of the New Zealand Law Society’s Law Reform Committee.

+64 21 861 814 | nick.whittington@hawkestone.co.nz

LinkedIn Profile

    • Lagolago v Judicial Conduct Commissioner [2023] NZCA 423

    • Deliu v Judicial Conduct Commissioner [2022] NZHC 1524

    • Enterprise Miramar Peninsula Inc v Wellington City Council [2021] NZHC 549

    • Ngāti Whatua Orākei Trust v Attorney-General [2018] NZSC 24

    • Enterprise Miramar Peninsula Inc v Wellington City Council [2018] NZCA 514

    • Wright v Attorney-General [2016] NZCA 593, [2015] NZHC 3367

    • Wright v Independent Police Conduct Authority [2015] NZHC 1821

    • Thorndon Quay Collective Inc v Wellington City Council [2024] NZCA 316

    • Foodstuffs (North Island) Limited v Wellington City Council [2024] NZHC 987

    • Wānaka Stakeholders Group Inc v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2021] NZHC 852

    • Enterprise Miramar Peninsula Inc v Wellington City Council [2021] NZHC 549

    • Island Bay Residents Association v Wellington City Council [2019] NZHC 1240

    • Ayrburn Farm Developments Limited v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2016] NZHC 997

    • Kawarau Jet Services Holdings Ltd v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2015] NZHC 234

    • MacFarlane Investments Ltd v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2023] NZEnvC 223

    • Goodwin v Wellington City Council [2021] NZEnvC 28, [2021] NZEnvC 9

    • Trojan Holdings Limited v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2020] NZEnvC 79

    • Vipassana Foundation Charitable Trust Board v Auckland Council [2019] NZSC 73, [2019] NZCA 100

    • Speargrass Holdings Limited v van Brandenburg [2019] NZCA 564

    • Aspros v Wellington City Council [2019] NZHC 1684

    • Hollander v Auckland Council [2017] NZHC 2487

    • Nash v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2015] NZHC 1041

    • National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited v Trustees of the Shallard Family (No 2) Trust [2019] NZHC 749

    • Hugh Green Ltd v Auckland Council [2018] NZHC 2916, [2019] NZHC 635

    • Plaza Investments Limited v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2018] NZHC 1925

    • Minister of Education v IT Architects Limited [2014] NZHC 1541

    • Strategic Finance Limited (in rec and liq) v Bridgman [2013] NZCA 357

Practice areas

Qualifications

BA/LLB (Hons) Victoria University of Wellington

LLM University of Cambridge

Publications

Co-author, Mahoney on Evidence (2nd ed, Thomson Reuters, 2024)