Māori legal leaders Matanuku Mahuika and Isaac Hikaka appointed King’s Counsel in 2026 honors list

Aotearoa’s legal fraternity is celebrating a significant milestone for Māori representation with the elevation of 12 distinguished barristers to the rank of King’s Counsel. Attorney-General Chris Bishop announced the 2026 appointments on Friday, 16 October, noting that the new silks were selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants. The rank is primarily awarded to barristers sole who demonstrate excellence, supporting the continued availability of specialist expertise for the New Zealand public. Among the appointees is Matanuku Mahuika, a highly respected practitioner who has dedicated much of his career to Māori legal issues, Treaty of Waitangi claims, and Māori land law. A graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, Mr Mahuika was admitted to the bar in 1991. As reported by both Beehive.govt.nz and Te Ao Māori News, he spent 21 years with Kahui Legal before joining Bankside Chambers in 2024. His leadership in the sector includes serving as a past president of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (The Māori Law Society), and he is widely recognised for his work in corporate and commercial law alongside administrative and trust law. Also appointed to the rank is Isaac Hikaka, who is of Ngā Ruahine descent. Mr Hikaka, based at LeeSalmonLong in Auckland, holds an LLM from the University of Cambridge and has practised as a barrister since 2006. His practice covers a broad range of complex disputes, including civil litigation, intellectual property, trusts and equity, sports law, and constitutional law. His elevation comes at a time when Māori legal and constitutional issues remain at the forefront of national public discourse. Attorney-General Chris Bishop stated that the appointment of King’s Counsel recognises the "exceptional skill and experience" of the nation’s leading barristers. He highlighted that the 2026 cohort reflects the strength of the legal profession, with expertise spanning environmental law, criminal litigation, and international law. Along with Mahuika and Hikaka, the new King’s Counsel include ten other legal professionals. Bishop congratulated all 12 appointees on what he described as a significant achievement in their professional lives, noting that these senior practitioners continue to shape the future of the New Zealand bar.