He uri tēnei o Ngāti Raukawa te au ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tūwharetoa me Ngāti Maniapoto. Bernadette is a barrister specialising in Public Law and Māori legal issues. She has a particular interest in the intersection of tikanga and state law. Prior to joining the independent bar, Bernadette was Crown Counsel in the Crown Legal Risk Group at Crown Law and a lawyer in private practice. She has been senior counsel in the courts at all levels in judicial review proceedings, appeals, and other general litigation including Waitangi Tribunal proceedings. Bernadette is on the panel of the Hawkes Bay Independent Flood Review, a Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, and a Deputy Chair of the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal. In 2021 Bernadette helped to establish Te Kura Huna, a kāhui to advocate for, connect, support and empower Māori legal professionals in the public sector.