Winner of Pro Bono Outstanding Firm, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026

We are delighted to share that Mayne Wetherell has won the award for Pro Bono Outstanding Firm for the Asia-Pacific region at the Chambers and Partners (Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Honours) 2026 awards recently held in Hong Kong.

This recognition reflects Mayne Wetherell’s support for a number of pro-bono causes, including, recently, acting for Mr Russell Hoban (together with Robert Kirkness and Max Harris of Thorndon Chambers) on his appeal to the Court of Appeal seeking a declaration regarding New Zealand’s laws concerning hate speech (Hoban v Attorney-General [2025] NZCA 644). Mr Hoban’s appeal concerned section 61 of the Human Rights Act 1993, which prohibits certain speech that is “likely to excite hostility against or bring into contempt any group of persons in or who may be coming to New Zealand on the ground of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of that group of persons” but does not prohibit such speech where it is directed against groups on the ground of sexual orientation. Mr Hoban sought a declaration that the fact section 61 prohibits hate speech on the basis of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins, but not on the basis of sexual orientation, meant it was inconsistent with the right to freedom from discrimination in section 19 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZBORA). The case raises several important issues as to the relationship between laws regulating hate-speech, and the right (under the NZBORA) to freedom from discrimination.

A big thank you to Chambers & Partners for recognising the legal profession’s contributions to initiatives like this, and to all of our pro bono clients for the opportunity to work with you.

The Supreme Court last month granted leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in Hoban. The important issues raised in the case will be considered by the Supreme Court when the appeal is heard in October.

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