Beyond our Shores Talanoa: Pacific Peoples in the Law Panel

Judge Tania Sharkey

Judge Tania Sharkey is of Tongan (Houma, Tongatapu) and Irish descent. Prior to being sworn in as a Judge at the Manukau District Court in 2023, Judge Sharkey was Lead Counsel Assisting of the Pacific peoples’ investigation in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in Care. Before this, she had worked as a solicitor in Auckland and then established herself as a barrister at Friendship Chambers in Manukau, practising mainly in the family law area. She has been a Parole Board member since 2020, and has held various legal positions, including President of the Pacific Lawyers Association (2018–2021) and several years as Family Law Section Regional Representative (South Auckland). 

Fonoti Seti Talamaivao

Fonoti Seti Talamaivao is of Samoan descent and is currently the Chief Adviser Pacific to the Crown Response Unit for the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. After graduating from law school he began his legal career as a Senior Solicitor at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), before becoming the Northern Regional Manager – Regional Partnerships Directorate at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP), and then Legal Manager at MSD. Immediately prior to his current role, he was the Acting Deputy Secretary and the Chief Legal Advisor at MPP.  

Agnes Meredith-Leiataua

Agnes Meredith-Leiataua is of Samoan descent. She graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Laws, and then was admitted as a solicitor in 2022. While at Auckland Law School, Agnes served as secretary of the PILSA executive and received the Pacific Health Scholarship as well as the University of Auckland Chancellor's Award for Top Māori and Pacific Scholar. Her first position after graduating was as a Graduate Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Justice, based at the National Office in Wellington. From the Ministry of Justice, Agnes went on to work at the Ministry of Health as a Policy Advisor, and then as a Senior Advisor.

Bradley Arona-Waqanivavalagi

Bradley Arona-Waqanivavalagi is of Māori (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) and Fijian (Kadavu) descent. While at Auckland Law School, Bradley was a member of the FOLAU team, serving as Academic Skills Mentor in the Moana Oceania Academic Initiative (MAI). Admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court in 2022, he is currently a solicitor in one of MC’s regulatory litigation teams and is also a prosecutor for the Crown, appearing on a range of criminal matters in the District Court.