People involved in the Coronial Inquiries
Coroner Marcus Elliott
Coroner Marcus Elliott was appointed as a Coroner in 2015. He has conducted coronial inquiries in a range of complex cases. Before being appointed as a Coroner, he was a barrister practising in civil and criminal litigation. He was also Counsel Assisting the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.
Counsel Assisting the Coroner
Joshua Shaw
Joshua is counsel assisting Coroner Elliott.
Joshua is a highly accomplished litigator, with specialist expertise in regulatory and disciplinary prosecutions, acting both as a prosecutor and as defence counsel. He acts for and advises various regulatory bodies, government departments and local authorities on their compliance, monitoring and enforcement responsibilities.
With considerable experience in coronial inquests, Joshua is regularly appointed as counsel assisting the Coroner, often in cases of high public interest. He also acts for the New Zealand Law Society in disciplinary proceedings against lawyers, and has been appointed by the High Court, District Court and Employment Court as counsel to assist in various capacities.
Joshua is assisted in his role by Christina Twyman.
Christina Twyman
Christina is an experienced litigator who regularly appears as lead counsel in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as various specialist tribunals. Christina’s areas of expertise include coronial inquiries, professional disciplinary proceedings, criminal and regulatory litigation.
Christina has significant experience in the Coroners Court, with a substantial portion of her current practice dedicated to acting as counsel assisting the Coroner in a range of inquiries.
She also has considerable experience with Royal Commissions of Inquiry, including her appointment as counsel assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care between 2020-2022. In addition to her roles as counsel assisting courts and inquiries, Christina regularly defends parties in complex regulatory criminal prosecutions, advises regulators on their statutory obligations and acts for the New Zealand Law Society in disciplinary proceedings against lawyers.
Anna Adams
Anna Adams is also a counsel assisting the Coroner, with the specific focus of assisting the bereaved families and survivors doing the inquiry.
Anna is a national-level expert in public, health and regulatory law with over twenty-five years’ experience in advisory work and litigation.
Anna’s experience includes public and administrative law, judicial review, central and local government practice, health law, coroners’ inquiries, prosecution, human rights and vulnerable persons’ law, privacy and information law. She has a particular skill in healthcare-related matters including concerns arising from patient, practitioner and hospital, professional discipline, medicines, mental health and capacity.
Anna has advised on public policy and regulatory systems, governance and probity issues in large organisations and is a seasoned litigator.
Emma Pairman
Emma is assisting Anna in her role as counsel assisting the Coroner, with the specific focus of assisting the bereaved families and survivors.
Emma is an experienced litigator and has spent six years working as a Crown Prosecutor. Emma has appeared in the District Court, Environment Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and has significant trial and appellate experience. Emma has conducted many trials for serious criminal matters and has worked closely with complainants, survivors, and victims assisting them in understanding and engaging with Court processes.
Over the years, Emma developed a specialty in regulatory work with a primary focus on resource management regulation. She now works with regulatory and resource management legal teams to provide strategic advice for complex litigation.
Case manager
To contact the case manager please email CSU.Christchurch@justice.govt.nz