Tauranga’s first iwi-based free legal clinic aims to increase access to justice and “critical” legal support.
Northland-raised lawyer Keegan Jones (Ngāti Hine and Ngāti Porou), who lives in Tauranga, is the face behind the initiative.
Jones, 26, is the founder of The Free Legal Clinics Project Charitable Trust.
He has established six free Māori-centric clinics in Kerikeri, Whangārei, Ōtautahi, Christchurch, Auckland, and now Tauranga, helping thousands of people navigate family, land, and criminal law issues.
Keegan opened the Tauranga clinic on November 11 in partnership with Ngāti Ranginui and the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Tauranga.
The clinic operates from iwi premises on 9th Avenue.
The CAB refers clients to the clinic and a CAB volunteer also assists Jones in welcoming attendees.
Jones said he was also working with local iwi to establish a “legal waka” – a decommissioned ambulance to be used as a mobile legal clinic.
“Our kaupapa is grounded in tikanga [customary practices and values of Māori culture] and te ao Māori, ensuring everyone can seek guidance in an environment that is culturally safe, inclusive and nurturing.”
Jones, a lawyer at Northland-based WRMK law firm, was recently recognised in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards, named among Northland Te Tai Tokerau Tower Local Hero Medalists for his innovative project.
In June, Jones’ impact was recognised internationally when he was the only Kiwi named on Forbes magazine’s Asia region 30 Under 30 Social Impact List.
He said he launched the project for the same reason he became a lawyer – a passion for “equality and justice”.
Raised in Northland with “a rich environment of te ao Māori”, he saw the “critical need for “accessible and culturally sensitive” free legal support.
“Unfortunately, in Northland, there is a large proportion of people in the poverty bracket, and with poverty, it means people can’t afford to buy food, let alone pay for a lawyer.”
Jones said he was also motivated by seeing Māori over-represented in the justice system and struggling to access legal services.
“The idea of the clinics is to provide a space that is kaupapa Māori-based, but the clinics are also open to everyone in the community. This is not just for Māori, but tangata Pākehā, tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti [people of the Treaty of Waitangi].”
He said across the board, those who attend the clinics need guidance with property disputes, trust-related matters and family issues.
Jones said a legal issue is also a health issue, particularly as it can impact people’s mental health.
“I tell people that we are a one-stop shop service and we provide guidance.
“We are not only able to offer legal services, but if there are other social services we are familiar with, we can make those referrals as well if needed.”
He said having the clinics at a kaupapa Māori premises was the ideal setting.
“You can tell the clients appreciate it, and their walls come down.
“And once the session has ended, there’s an incredible feeling, and you can see the client has got wider shoulders and they’re smiling.”
Jones said he and his wife Kayla moved to Tauranga about five months ago.
“My wife’s family are from Ōpōtiki and her sister lives in Tauranga. We want to establish our roots here and grow our family.
“The Bay of Plenty has always been in our sights in terms of establishing a home, and wherever I am, I want to establish a free legal clinic.”
Jones said the clinics operate on a booking system, with various volunteer lawyers timetabled to provide their services on a pro bono basis.
He said he was keen to get fellow lawyers in Tauranga to come on board.
“The demand is there, and if we continue the momentum and get other volunteer lawyers to assist, potentially we could have fortnightly clinics.
“It is truly such fulfilling work and a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
Ngāti Ranginui iwi Tau Ora services manager Roy Nathan said the iwi has been working in the Tauranga District Court providing a “holistic community whānau ora service” to support participants and victims of crime over the past year, in a judiciary-led initiative.
Nathan said partnering with Jones to help reduce barriers and better inform communities entering the justice pathway was a “no-brainer”.
CAB Tauranga manager Catherine Fletcher said Jones approached the bureau in September. She said they were “thrilled” to be part of the clinics.
“Although the clinics are open to all ethnicities, we think having sessions on other legal subjects and in an environment that is culturally sensitive to local iwi will help extend CAB’s reach to those in need.”
Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.