Editors-in-Chief – 2026 Edition

Samantha Fowler (Kaupapa Māori)
Samantha Fowler (Ngāi Te Rangi) is a Senior Solicitor Rōia Mātāmua at Luke Cunningham Clere in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, where she specialises in criminal and public law litigation. She graduated from the University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka in 2022 with an LLB(Hons) and a BA. Samantha is passionate about amplifying the voices of wāhine Māori and advancing discussion on gender-based justice through a tikanga lens. 

Samantha joined the Journal in 2024 as an Associate Editor and was the Editor in Chief (Kaupapa Māori) in 2025. Samantha is excited to work with the passionate tīma at the Journal and contribute to another year of excellent feminist legal scholarship.

Sophie Dixon
Sophie is an employed barrister at Bankside Chambers, working with Rachael Jones and Josh Suyker. Prior to this, Sophie was a Judge’s Clerk at Te Kōti Matua o Te Whanganui-a-Tara (the Wellington High Court). She graduated from Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University of Wellington) in 2023 with a LLB/BA majoring in English Literature. Sophie was a Deputy Editor of the Journal in 2024 and 2025, and is excited to continue building on this work as Editor-In-Chief. She is honoured to work with a wonderful team, and is passionate about ensuring the Journal's articles are read and considered by the judiciary and legal profession. In her spare time, she enjoys starting craft projects, mentoring with Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou and watching every show Shonda Rhimes has produced.

Anna Piebenga
Anna Piebenga is currently completing a Master of Laws at Leiden University in the Netherlands, specialising in children’s rights. She graduated from the University of Otago | Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka in 2022 with an LLB(First Class Hons) and a BA in Politics and English. Anna began her career as the Judge’s Clerk to the Principal Family Court Judge in Wellington and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2024. 

Anna’s pūmanawa (what makes her ‘heart beat’) is improving outcomes for women and children through legal, policy and social change. She aims to draw on her professional and academic experience to expand the Journal’s work to amplify the voices and experiences of younger women. Anna was an Associate Editor of the 2024 edition and is honoured to contribute to the Journal’s kaupapa as Co-Editor-in-Chief. She looks forward to working alongside the wider editorial team to further develop Aotearoa’s feminist legal scholarship. 

Deputy Editors

Melissa Tahere (Kaupapa Māori)
He uri tēnei nō Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi me Ngāpuhi. Melissa is a solicitor at Whāia Legal, a kaupapa Māori law firm, where she specialises in corporate and commercial advisory, with a particular focus on supporting iwi, hapū and whānau Māori.

Melissa graduated from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington in 2023 with a LLB and a BCOM, majoring in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations. Her interests centre on the intersection of law and the lived experiences of wāhine, particularly how Western legal systems fail to recognise, uphold, and respond to the unique rights, roles, and realities of wāhine Māori. She has previously contributed to the New Zealand Women’s Law Journal through her work on Wāhine Tū, Iwi Māori Ora – The Waitangi Tribunal Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry: The First 32 Years.

Claire Rees
Claire is a Judges’ Clerk at the Auckland High Court | Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa.  She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka in 2024 with a LLB(Hons)/BCom majoring in Public Policy, completing her final semester on exchange at the Università Bocconi in Milan.  While at law school, Claire enjoyed tutoring, being a research assistant, and volunteering with the education team as part of the Wellington Community Justice Project which provides free educational resources to community members across Wellington about their rights.  Claire has a particular interest in access to justice and the influence of international law on New Zealand’s legislation and case law.  Claire is very excited to join the Editorial team and assist in furthering the important work of the Journal.

Managing Editors

Nadine Ward – Managing Editor
Nadine is a solicitor in the Office of the Manukau Crown Solicitor (Kayes Fletcher Walker), and author of the Youth Justice commentary in Abbott & Thompson, District Courts Practice (Criminal). Nadine graduated from the University of Otago in 2018 before assisting the Principal Youth Court Judge in Wellington. Throughout her career, Nadine has been exposed to forward-thinking and innovative leaders committed to empowering others, particularly in areas of youth justice, family and sexual violence. As the Managing Editor of the Journal in 2026, Nadine looks forward to working with an excellent team to further strengthen and showcase feminist legal scholarship in New Zealand.

Isobel Howe – Deputy Managing Editor
Isobel grew up in England and is now based in Tāhuna Queenstown. She is working as a Law Clerk in commercial litigation whilst converting her English and Australian law degrees over to practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Isobel has always advocated for women’s rights, having studied human rights and violence against women across the globe and volunteering with a sexual violence charity operating across Australia and pro-bono clinics in London. Isobel discovered the Journal on a late night research mission for her post-graduate at the University of Sydney, and has followed it closely ever since, so she is excited to contribute to Te Aho Kawe Kaupapa Ture a ngā Wāhine and be part of the important conversations shaping gender justice within the law in the country she is lucky to now consider home. In her spare time, Isobel is quite often in her ever-growing vegetable garden or starting new craft projects (NB: starting, not finishing!).

Advocacy Managers

Sophie Vreeburg
Sophie is a legal adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade based in Pōneke. In this role she advises the government on a range of peace and security and general international law issues. She also assists with international treaty negotiations. Whilst at University in Tāmaki Makaurau, she was the director of the Equal Justice Project, a pro bono and student-led charity focused on social equality, inclusivity and access to justice. Having been with the Advocacy team since 2023, Sophie’s aim is to continue to build on the Journal’s scholarship by increasing the accessibility and reach of its law reform and other educational initiatives, including the ongoing development of its podcast series. 

Beth Murfitt (Kaupapa Māori)
He mokopuna ia nō Ngāti Raukawa me Ngāti Huia. Beth is a Pou Ture Matua | Senior Solicitor at Whāia Legal, a kaupapa Māori law firm, where she specialises in civil litigation and public law, after beginning her career at a large law firm. Beth is a staunch advocate for amplifying the hapū, iwi and Māori voice. Beth graduated from Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington in 2022 with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in te reo Māori. She has also completed a Diploma in Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi Level 7 through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Beth has previously contributed to the Journal in 2025, alongside the wāhine at Whāia Legal, with the piece Wāhine Tū, Iwi Māori Ora The Waitangi Tribunal Mana Wahine Kaupapa Inquiry: The First 32 Years.