Advocacy Consultant

At The Advocacy Partnership, we exist to restore balance in systems where everyday people are too often unheard. In New Zealand, around four out of five Tenancy Tribunal applications are made by landlords, and research shows landlords are more than twenty-five times more likely to file a case than tenants. Only a small fraction of tenants or employees ever take action, often because they don’t know their rights, can’t afford representation, or fear retaliation.

In employment disputes, workers are especially vulnerable to power imbalances. While unjustified dismissal and disadvantage claims succeed in roughly 72 percent of cases, that number reflects how often people endure unfair treatment, harassment, or discrimination before they find the courage or resources to seek help.

Across civil and community matters, people facing financial hardship, unemployment, or disability encounter even greater barriers to justice. Complex systems, limited access, and fear of legal costs often prevent them from pursuing fair outcomes.

The Advocacy Partnership was created to change that, to make advocacy and mediation accessible, affordable, and responsive for anyone who needs a voice. Having faced similar challenges myself, I understand the stress and isolation that come with standing up for what’s right. Our mission is simple, to empower, to support, and to ensure that fairness and dignity are not privileges, but rights shared by everyone in our community.