Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
11+ years’ experience at Immigration New Zealand

Before moving into legal practice, Mathew spent over 11 years at Immigration New Zealand in frontline, technical, leadership, and national office roles. He began his career as a Business Immigration Specialist, working as a frontline immigration officer responsible for assessing visa applications and making immigration decisions. In this role he worked directly with applicants navigating complex immigration pathways and developed a detailed understanding of how immigration instructions are applied in practice.

He later moved into the role of Technical Advisor, supporting immigration officers with the interpretation of immigration instructions and assisting with complex decision-making. In this position he worked closely with operational teams to ensure consistency and accuracy in immigration decisions across cases.

Mathew also held the position of Immigration Manager, leading operational teams responsible for visa processing and immigration decision-making. He later worked as a Senior Business Advisor within Immigration New Zealand’s national office, contributing to work supporting senior leadership and the Minister’s office.

A significant part of Mathew’s experience has been in business migration, including New Zealand’s entrepreneur, investor, and parent retirement categories. This work involved assessing complex financial evidence, investment structures, and business proposals, and working closely with applicants and advisers navigating these pathways.

Having worked across both operational and advisory roles within Immigration New Zealand, Mathew brings a unique perspective to immigration law. He understands what immigration officers need in order to properly assess an application and reach a decision.

Mathew approaches his work with both professional rigour and empathy. Immigration matters often represent major life decisions for individuals and families. His focus is on carefully understanding each client’s situation, advocating strongly on their behalf, and presenting their case clearly and effectively.