Kerensa Johnston 
Ngāti Tama, Ngāruahine and Ngāti Whāwhakia

A graduate of Victoria University, Kerensa was awarded an LLB and a BA in History. She has a Master of Laws in International Law (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland. Kerensa’s legal background encompasses commercial private practice and public law roles, and as a barrister.  She has worked in corporate law, environmental law and property law as well as the law relating to public law and constitutional issues, including the Treaty of Waitangi and international law.  Kerensa worked for the Court of Appeal in Wellington and Wellington law firm, Buddle Findlay, before moving to London where she was in-house counsel for Westminster City, the largest local authority in the United Kingdom.  On her return to New Zealand, Kerensa joined the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland (specialising in Māori legal development) before establishing a private legal practice in the Bay of Plenty and Nelson.    

Kerensa was appointed as Chief Executive of Wakatū Incorporation in 2016, following on from her 2012 appointment as General Counsel with overall responsibility for legal and regulatory matters.   

With a strong interest in issues of social justice and equality, Kerensa has held various voluntary and community-based roles.  Currently she is Chair of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the Māori Centre of Research Excellence, and of Ngāti Tama Charitable Trust. Kerensa is a member of the International Association of Corporate Counsel, Corporate Lawyers’ New Zealand, and Te Hunga Roia (the Māori Law Society).