Are you looking for a change in 2025? This is your opportunity to work in a supportive and collaborative team, providing legal advice and litigation case management to support the activities of the Compliance function at Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). You will be joining a friendly, professional, multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, investigators, and intelligence analysts.

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role
We're looking for experienced lawyers with 4 or more years PQE and a litigation background, ideally including prosecutions and public sector law.

The Compliance Team's primary role is to maintain the integrity of New Zealand's overseas investment regime which regulates foreign direct investment, by:

• investigating possible breaches of the Overseas Investment Act 2005; and
• making sure consent holders meet the conditions of their consents and deliver promised benefits to New Zealand;
• taking enforcement action where overseas persons have deliberately tried to circumvent the Act, provided false information, or failed to meet their consent conditions; and
• identifying and assessing possible risks of investments.

While the team's current work is predominantly under the Overseas Investment Act 2005, we are actively building capability to support other regulatory regimes administered by LINZ. There is an opportunity to learn about a range of new legislation and compliance regimes.

You will help manage LINZ's compliance litigation programme, involving both civil and criminal proceedings. You will instruct the Crown Law Office, Crown Solicitors and external barristers, and work closely with them to progress our cases. There may be occasional opportunities to appear for LINZ, alongside a Crown Counsel or Crown Solicitor, but this is not the focus of the role.

You will also provide legal advice to, and work side-by-side with, our investigators as they investigate possible breaches of our legislation. This includes overseeing the use of our information gathering powers and supporting our investigators as they undertake evidential interviews. You will assess the strength of our cases and make

recommendations on the most appropriate and proportionate compliance action. In addition, you will help with the preparation of advice for decision-makers, briefings for Ministers' offices, as well as supporting the team with media and Official Information Act responses.

As this is a senior position, you will be expected to have the experience, resilience, and judgement necessary to weigh up different courses of action and assess risks. You will have the opportunity to guide and mentor junior colleagues.

This is an exciting time to join us, as the Compliance Team has several cases ready to bring to Court. To get an overview of the Compliance Team's work, visit the ‘Enforcement' page of our website which sets out our enforcement approach, our strategic priorities, and enforcement action taken.

While this role is part of (and reports to) the LINZ Legal Team, you will be homed within the Compliance Team and focus on its work.

He pūkenga tou - Skills & Experience

• To succeed in this role, you will be an experienced lawyer with solid litigation experience and hold a current practising certificate (or the ability to hold one).
• Experience in regulatory enforcement, commercial law, property law, and/or trusts would be advantageous, but is not critical as this expertise already exists in the Compliance Team and other teams that administer the Overseas Investment Act.
• You will have excellent communication skills to confidently interact with investors and their legal counsel on compliance issues and potential breaches.
• You will have the maturity, pragmatism, and commercial acumen needed to reach sensible resolution of matters.
• You will have a good understanding of the Privacy Act 2020, and the ability to apply that when considering the use of our information gathering powers.

The expected appointing range for this role is $125,000 - $140,000 based on skill and experience.

Ngā mea e tukuna ana e tātau – What we offer our employees

• Interesting work which impacts Aotearoa as we care for our whenua, moana and arawai.
• Eye & ear care reimbursements
• Annual Flu Vaccinations
• Reduced Health Insurance Premiums
• Diverse groups and networks
• If eligible for paid parental leave, you will be entitled to a top up payment for the first 18 weeks of the 26 weeks.
• A minimum of four weeks and three days annual leave

Te Tākinatanga - Our Story
Toitū Te Whenua LINZ plays a vital role in understanding, developing, and caring for New Zealand's whenua, moana and arawai (land, sea and waterways). Whether you're developing our products and services to support our customers, managing the Crown estate, engaging with our iwi partners, or helping us be an effective regulator, your contribution can make a difference. Our mahi helps New Zealanders have confidence that the development of our land, communities and country is being planned from an informed and expert position that balances environmental, social, cultural, and economic considerations. Now and for future generations.

Our Kia Toipoto Intentions - Public Service Gender, Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Pay Gap Action Plan
Toitū Te Whenua is a diverse team of individuals with different experience and perspectives. This drives our culture and high performance. We know that people from underrepresented groups and women in particular don't apply for roles if they're not a 100% match, but we're not looking for perfection, we're looking for potential. As an inclusive and supportive employer, we value difference and want to encourage anyone interested to apply, regardless of whether you tick all the boxes or not. As an organisation we embrace diversity, encourage work life balance and have a flexible approach to the way we work which means you will quickly feel connected and valued.

Tono mai - How to Apply
If you're eyeing up this role and believe you've got what it takes, please apply, or get in touch with the team. To apply, please click “Senior Solicitor (Open Term)”or “Senior Solicitor (Fixed Term)”. You'll be taken through to our Toitū Te Whenua Careers Centre where you'll be able to review further information about the responsibilities and accountabilities of this

role in the Position Description. You'll be able to complete your online application form and upload a copy of your CV/Cover Letter.

Please note, while applications close Sunday 9 February 2025, we may be reviewing applications as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this position.

For tracking and evaluation purposes, all applications must be submitted via our on-line process. You must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be eligible for this position. 

You may notice that the Position Description title for this role (Solicitor - Level Rua/2) doesn't match the advertised title. At Toitū Te Whenua we design our roles around shared capabilities (rather than focusing on tasks). This means our position descriptions are broad, one position description can cover many roles, this is known as Broad Based Role (BBR). Using BBR allows us to be responsive to our customers and to strengthen the connections across our organisation. It also gives us the flexibility to provide wider opportunities to our people, to further their careers.

If you have any questions about this role or working at Toitū Te Whenua, please email opportunities@linz.govt.nz and our Recruitment Team will be in touch with you.