Real Stories from Real Clients

See the Benefits of Working with MGZ Employment Law

The team at MGZ Employment Law is dedicated to providing top-quality employment law services to clients throughout New Zealand. 



From HR consultants to business owners, these real stories showcase the benefits of working with MGZ Employment Law’s experienced team of employment lawyers. Whether it's navigating complex employment law issues or finding solutions that work for your business, MGZ Employment Law is here to help. Read on to see why a few of MGZ’s clients rely on them for all of their employment law needs.

They are employer centric and solutions-focused

— Murray Cowan, HR Consultant (retired), Hawkes Bay

“I was one of their very first clients. I’d worked in HR for a number of large employers before going out on my own. MGZ is the go-to employment law people in New Zealand for pragmatism, robustness and knowledge.

They deliver expedient solutions to tricky legal situations. They are genuine people too. Able to relate to all types. There's no snobbery to them either which is refreshing. 

What I like about them is that they are employer-centric and solutions focused. Unlike some employment lawyers, they won't just give you 101 reasons why you can't do something. They seek to understand what you want to achieve and give solid recommendations on how to achieve that outcome.”

We wanted to do it as fairly as possible

“We had to let a quarter of our workforce go following the effects of the covid restrictions impacting trade. It’s not easy delivering bad news and we wanted to do it as fairly for the staff as possible.

So we worked closely with Jane [Taylor] to ensure the process was lawful, correct, and fair. She provided the confidence to know we were doing it right and was direct and clear about what the outcome should be and how to go about it.

We didn’t have a single person complain about how we handled the situation and I credit Jane's expertise for helping us achieve that.”

— Tammara Lowdell, former owner of Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park

They see the legal things I might miss

“As an HR professional, collaborating with MGZ is valuable to me in terms of seeing the things that I might miss. There are not many of them after 20 years in HR, but they see the things I may not know about current case law or a little focus that’s important to keep us safe.

Working with MGZ improves my practice. I also like that they are not rigid in their approach. My experience of other employment lawyers, before them, is they are often a little too focused on the legalese and not so much the humanity.

That’s not my experience of MGZ. They are skilled at focusing on the key issues, but also flexible enough to work with the needs of the business I work with. They are all a little bit different and MGZ is very adaptable to that.

They’re terrific. We’ve collaborated across a wide variety of businesses for close to 20 years now and I’d recommend them to other consultants needing help with anything that fits just outside the realms of HR.”

— Phyllis Gardyne, HR Consultant

Gives clear directives on the best steps to take

“Unlike some corporate law firms used, I find MGZ gives clear guidance on the law and clear practical and fast advice As a structural and geotechnical engineering consultancy nationwide, we’ve had occasion to engage MGZ for a variety of services. 

Larger corporate law firms tend to say the right things and get back to you with a two or four-page report, and a big bill, but it doesn’t actually give you very clear guidance. Whereas Dean, he'll identify the issue thoroughly, and give clear direction on the best steps to take. 

Basically, he's been our go-to person for all employment-related issues for eight years now and I see no reason to discontinue that anytime soon”.

— David Weir, Co-director, Miyamoto International

Flexibility in meeting our needs

— Andrew Scott, General Manager, Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke

“The conversation early on demonstrated they have the experience and expertise to be able to give sound and pragmatic advice.  We were having an employment issue and needed their expertise so we could make informed decisions with the choices that were available.



What stood out was their flexibility in meeting our needs and how they give advice. Whether it was a quick chat on the phone or detailed preparation documents. They have excellent experience in a specialist area, so I’d definitely recommend them to other employers.”

Sound, cost-effective commercial advice

“We were undertaking a substantial restructuring as a result of the Global Financial Crisis. We needed an employer advocate who could offer sound, cost-effective commercial advice, as well as be accessible and could turn information around quickly.

I’ve had a working relationship with MGZ for 10 years. They know their stuff and they perform.”

— Managing Director

It can get dangerous to deal with it yourself

“Having Dean onside to help navigate the risks is invaluable to us. You need somebody who knows what they are doing and is aligned with the company’s thinking.

The way employment law is now, it can get dangerous to deal with it yourself. He’s professional and articulate but puts things in layman's terms. He lets us know what we are doing, right or wrong, which is solid in my view.

Dean rewrote our individual employment agreements for staff most recently, but we’ve used his services across the board.” 

— Wayne Thomson, General Manager, Automotive Colours

They know employment law inside out

“They understand what goes on in business and that’s important. They are a collaborative partner with us and what differentiates them is their pragmatic approach. They know employment law inside out but are pragmatic in terms of how they apply it.

They provide practical solutions to move an issue on or solve a problem. When we build a new business or restructure a business to make it more viable or prepare for growth, their expertise is worth its weight.

A lot of law firms will have employment law as an add-on but MGZ’s sole focus is on employer advocacy, and that makes all the difference.”

— Hamish Ott, Managing Director, Gotham Universal

Possess the key personal and professional attributes we look for

This level of care and service has remained true during both normal operating conditions and also in challenging circumstances such as during lockdowns and the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes.”

“Dean and his colleagues have consistently provided clarity of advice with integrity, courtesy and professionalism over the past 11 years for us.  In my view, Dean and the team at MGZ possess the key personal and professional attributes we look for and appreciate.

They’ve advised us on a number of employment issues, across the board, including consulting and finalising redundancy processes, managing personal grievance claims, and mediation. Also; drafting and implementing internal policies and procedures and individual employment agreements.

— Miles Stewart, Co-director, New Zealand Language Centres Ltd

Natural ability to find common ground

“Dean is a very practical lawyer. He’s clearly very smart and knows employment law well. He has a natural ability to form good working relationships and get parties to find common ground.

Ours is a seven-year working relationship and in that time Dean had helped with employment issues across the board. Most recently, he advised and advocated for us during an intense bargaining period with the NZTU.

It was reasonably challenging for both parties, but we ended up with a good result for both and avoided pending strike action.”

— Phil Melhopt, CEO, Primeport Timaru

Delivery of services is fantastic

“You get peace of mind and the confidence that they have the skills and experience to meet your needs. Their approach is to put the employer in a position with the information they need, to deal with any given situation.

My relationship with MGZ goes all the way back to 1998 and across two significant roles for corporate companies. My experience of their delivery of services is fantastic. I like that I can pick up the phone and connect with them.”

— Managing Director

Very helpful to our clients

“We’ve worked collaboratively with Dean and MGZ Law over the last five years or more. I refer my clients to them for all aspects of employment law.  They’re very proficient and knowledgeable of current case law and are incredibly pleasant to deal with.

From general advice to specific advocacy, the fact that MGZ Law specialises in employment law for employers is very helpful to our clients.” 

— Jane Yee, Co-director, Allen & Yee Lawyers

I like that they are a law firm with their feet firmly on the ground

“I would rate my experience of MGZ very highly. As an HR consultant for manufacturing, technology and some NGO’s I may refer my clients or facilitate through MGZ. 



I always walk away from there with a solution. I never walk away wondering if I got value for money. My working relationship stems back to when Raewyn was advising us. She was very practical and grounded in her advice to us, and that has remained so under the transition of the business to Dean. He continues to provide sound commercial advice with pragmatism.

— Karen Fordyce, HR Consultant

I like that they are a law firm with their feet firmly on the ground. They focus on supporting employers to make decisions that are best for their business. Most recently, I’ve engaged MGZ in supporting employers to navigate the minefield that is vaccine mandates.”