Profile
Alastair specialises in public and commercial law. He advises clients on legislative design, decision-making by statutory bodies, corporate governance and corporate structure, management of public expenditure through public sector contracting, industry regulation, and public law obligations of public sector bodies.
Alastair has specialist expertise in the health sector where he advises the Ministry of Health, District Health Boards and other public health sector agencies on a range of legislative, regulatory and commercial issues.
Alastair is one of New Zealand's leading experts on co-operative and mutual business structures, advising on both legislative issues affecting the sector and the structure of individual co-operatives. He is an experienced adviser on primary sector issues, advising industry organisations and major exporters such as ZESPRI International on regulatory and commercial issues.
Alastair is an expert on climate change law, having advised government departments, Crown entities and corporates on the design and implementation of government policies on climate change.
Alastair has significant corporate governance experience, as a Commissioner of EQC, and a former director and Deputy Chair of Medical Assurance Society Ltd.
Prior to joining Buddle Findlay, Alastair worked for nine years as a lawyer and diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which included a four year posting in Santiago, Chile.
Alastair is listed by Best Lawyers in New Zealand, in the corporate law, government practice and public law categories.
Alastair Hercus is appreciated for his "detailed knowledge of health and government sectors in New Zealand".
Chambers and Partners
- Commissioner of EQC
- Member of the Risk and Advisory Committee of MBIE
- Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors
Experience
Sector / Expertise
- Administrative law, consultation and judicial review
- Advocacy and government relations
- Agribusiness, horticulture and forestry
- Climate change and emissions trading
- Cooperatives
- Corporate and commercial
- Corporate governance
- Economic and infrastructure regulation
- Energy and resources
- Food and beverage
- Health
- Official information law
- Policy and legislation development
- Public and administrative law
- Public sector legal support
- Public sector procurement and contracting
Work highlights
Advising the Ministry of Health and all District Health Boards
on the rewrite of the PHO services contracts, the principal funding contract for primary healthcare in New Zealand
Advising all District Health Boards
on the age related residential care contract, the mechanism for public funding of rest home care in New Zealand and the community pharmacy contract through which community pharmacy services are funded
Advising the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project
on the review of the structure of the kiwifruit industry and ownership of Zespri
Advising Zespri
on the implementation of the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project recommendations
Advising the Ministry of Health
on the transition of the shared service activities of Health Benefits to a new District Health Board owned company, NZ Health Partnerships Ltd
Advising Health Benefits
on the establishment of the Finance Procurement and Supply Chain shared service for all District Health Boards
Alternate contacts
Tony Dellow
Partner, Wellington
Tony specialises in competition law and regulatory processes, especially in infrastructure industries. Tony’s practice is unique…
- DDI +64 4 498 7304
- M +64 21 349 651
Susie Kilty
Partner, Wellington
Susie specialises in competition, fair trading, overseas investment consents and economic regulation, particularly of infrastructure…
- DDI +64 4 498 7356
- M +64 21 792 134