Reviews and inquiries

Reviews and inquiries.

Kristy has extensive experience in a wide range of inquiries, including

  • Ministerial and Government inquiries
  • Royal Commissions and public inquiries
  • Corporate inquiries
  • Organisational investigations and reviews

She has acted as the inquirer, counsel assisting and counsel representing interested parties in many major public inquiries, including the Defence Inquiry into Operation Burnham, the Pike River Inquiry and has recently been appointed as Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry Covid-19 Lessons Learned.

Kristy has undertaken a number of corporate and organisational investigations, including cultural and structural reviews and abuse inquiries.

Examples of Kristy’s work
  • Appointed as Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry Covid-19 Lessons learned (Phase Two) in 2024.
  • In 2018–20, acted as Counsel Assisting the Government Inquiry into Operation Burnham, a NZ Defence Force operation in Afghanistan.
  • Conducted a review of the use of vertebrate toxic agents for the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) 2022.
  • Represented the Police in the Government inquiry into the appointment of Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha.
  • Conducted an inquiry into NZ Transport Association, structural and organisational review following warrant of fitness issues related to Dargaville Diesel.
  • In 2012, represented the Crown in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River Mining disaster.
  • Represented the Police in the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct (the Bazley Inquiry).
  • Counsel Assisting the Peter Ellis Inquiry (the Eichelbaum Inquiry).
  • Acted for Ministry of Fisheries in the State Services Commission Fisheries Inquiry.
  • Counsel Assisting the Independent Police Conduct Authority in relation to historic child abuse cases.
  • In 1999, carried out an inquiry on behalf of the former Chief Justice into conduct complaints.
  • Undertook a Ministerial Review of the Psychologists Act (the McDonald Inquiry).
  • Appointed Counsel Assisting the Commission of Inquiry into the Foxpine air crash (1990).
  • Undertaken sexual harassment inquiries on behalf of corporate clients.
  • Provided advice in relation to inquiries undertaken into alleged activities of Ministers of the Crown and in relation to investigations into senior Public Servants.
  • Reviewed petitions for the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy and has provided advice to ministers of the Crown in relation to a range of issues including compensation claims following wrongful conviction decisions and pardon petitions. Participated in a number of Commissions of Inquiry and Ministerial Inquiries, including the Inquiry into the Unauthorised Leaking of Confidential Government Papers (Department of Women’s Affairs).
  • Appointed as Police Disciplinary Tribunal for many years and assisted with the review of the Cook Islands National Police Department.