arrow-downcircle-playclosecrossdowndownward-rightdropdown-arrow-transparentdropdown-arrowemail-solidemailfacebook-solidfilterhamburgerillustration-aucklandillustration-wellingtonlayer-groupleftlinkedIn-solidlinkedIn-whitelinkedInloadermenuphonerestartrightsearchtwitter-solidupward-right-lgupward-rightvCard
Daniel Fielding

Daniel Fielding

Special Counsel Mātanga Ture

Ko Te Toiokawharu te maunga
Ko Muriwai te awa
E noho ana au ki Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara
Ko Fielding tōku whānau
Ko Daniel tōku ingoa

Daniel is a senior public law and regulatory lawyer who helps organisations navigate complex decisions involving government, regulation and public accountability. He has more than 15 years’ experience advising central and local government, Crown entities, state owned enterprises, investors, industry bodies and businesses operating in regulated environments, on major projects, reform programmes, governance issues and legislative change. Daniel helps clients manage legal risk, make confident decisions and progress matters that attract significant public, political or regulatory scrutiny.

Clients turn to Daniel when they are dealing with major change, new legislation, regulatory uncertainty, high-profile projects or complex governance issues. He is often engaged where decisions need to be legally robust and publicly defensible, or where organisations need practical advice on navigating government processes, statutory obligations and public accountability requirements. His experience helps clients move forward with confidence when legal, policy, operational and commercial considerations are closely connected.

Daniel advises on the legal and regulatory issues that arise when organisations operate in complex or highly scrutinised environments. His work covers governance, statutory interpretation, statutory decision-making, legislative compliance, public sector accountability, organisational integrity and regulatory risk. He helps clients respond to issues such as modern slavery and human rights risks, anti-bribery and corruption concerns, legislative change and major policy reform. Daniel also advises investors seeking to relocate to New Zealand under the Active Investor Plus visa programme, helping them navigate the legal, regulatory and investment issues associated with establishing themselves and their investments in New Zealand.

A significant part of Daniel’s practice involves helping organisations establish new entities, implement reform programmes and navigate structural or regulatory change. He has particular experience advising on water services reform, infrastructure projects and the establishment and transition of Crown entities and Crown-owned companies. He has been closely involved in the development and implementation of New Zealand’s water services reforms, including advising on policy development, legislative drafting, entity establishment and sector transition.

Daniel also advises businesses operating in regulated sectors on how legislative and policy change may affect their operations. He helps private sector clients engage effectively with government decision-making processes, understand emerging regulatory obligations, respond to regulatory issues as they arise and navigate regulatory reform. His experience across both the public and private sectors allows him to provide advice that is legally sound, commercially practical and grounded in how decisions are made in practice.

Before joining MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Daniel worked in public affairs and corporate communications roles, including in the office of a former New Zealand Prime Minister. He also gained international experience at a leading Australian law firm, representing clients in international arbitration and advising on major projects, anti-bribery and corruption, climate change litigation risk and modern slavery issues. This broader background gives him a strong understanding of the legal, political and reputational considerations that often shape complex matters.

Career highlights

Advised the Department of Internal Affairs on all aspects of the Labour Government’s Affordable Waters Reform Programme, its subsequent repeal, and the implementation of the Coalition Government's Local Water Done Well reforms. Supported policy development and legislative drafting for one of New Zealand's most significant public service delivery reform programmes

Advised the Wellington metro councils on establishing Tiaki Wai under the Local Water Done Well reforms. Assisted with governance arrangements, legislative requirements, consultation processes and organisational design to support the transition to a new regional water services model.

Advised New Zealand Trade and Enterprise on establishing Invest New Zealand, a new Crown entity focused on attracting foreign direct investment, including legislative design, the transfer of statutory functions and organisational transition arrangements.

Advised Ferry Holdings on governance, compliance and establishment matters for the new Schedule 4A company associated with the Cook Strait ferry replacement programme. Supported the establishment of the entity and advised on arrangements for a nationally significant infrastructure project.

Advised the United Kingdom Government on legal aspects of the NZ-UK free trade agreement negotiations and the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Advised a statutory board on responding to a serious integrity matter under racing legislation. Assisted with statutory interpretation of its powers, natural justice requirements and decision-making processes in a time-sensitive and high-scrutiny environment.

Advised a public sector organisation on managing modern slavery risks within its workforce and supply chain arrangements. Assisted with compliance measures and an investigation into alleged worker exploitation, helping address legal, regulatory and reputational risk.

Assisted overseas investors with applying for and obtaining resident visas under the AIP programme, resulting in NZD40 million being committed and/or invested under the Growth category in the first 18 months of the revised programme settings.

Affiliations
  • Board Member, Transparency International (New Zealand)
  • Alternate Board Member, New Zealand International Business Forum
  • Member, Law Reform Committee, New Zealand Law Society
  • Member, Leadership Network, Asia New Zealand Foundation
  • Member, Wellington Club
  • Alumnus, The U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program on Cooperative Efforts in Combating Transnational Crime for the Indo-Pacific and Central Asia
  • Accredited Arbitral Tribunal Secretary, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
Achievements and recognition
  • Band 1 team, Public Law, Chambers Asia-Pacific