The people behind the process.

Peter Smith

Civil Litigation, Commercial/Shareholders, Trusts, Leases

Peter Smith is the founding partner of Smith and Partners, having established the firm in 1988. With more than 50 years' experience in legal practice, he is recognised for his practical approach, sound judgement, and ability to help people resolve complex disputes. Peter specialises in mediation across a wide range of matters, including trust and estate disputes, relationship property matters, construction disputes, and commercial and contractual disagreements.



A negotiator at heart, Peter has spent decades helping individuals, families, trustees, and businesses navigate conflict and achieve practical, lasting resolutions. He is an accredited LEADR mediator under the Resolution Institute model and is known for his calm, impartial approach and ability to foster productive discussions, even in challenging circumstances.

Drawing on a distinguished legal career, Peter brings legal expertise, commercial understanding, and strong people skills to every mediation. He works collaboratively with parties to identify the key issues, explore options, and achieve outcomes that are practical, durable, and cost effective.

Peter has also made a significant contribution to New Zealand's racing industry through a range of governance and leadership roles. His experience in governance, regulatory decision-making, stakeholder management, and industry leadership provides valuable insight when assisting parties to resolve complex organisational and commercial disputes.

Peter provides mediation services exclusively through The Mediation Hub, where he acts as an independent and neutral mediator, helping parties work through disputes confidentially, efficiently, and constructively. Read more

Nathan Tetzlaff

Civil Litigation, Trusts, Leases

With almost 20 years’ experience as a civil dispute resolution specialist and trial lawyer, Nathan understands what drives disputes, what prevents them from settling, and what continued litigation can demand of everyone involved. He has represented parties in mediation throughout his career, giving him a practical understanding of how legal arguments, evidence, cost, risk, and personal dynamics interact. He is able to quickly identify the issues that matter most to resolution.

Difficult disputes benefit from transparent discussion rather than avoidance, and he is comfortable testing positions, asking focused questions, and privately and respectfully addressing unrealistic expectations where that may help achieve progress. Nathan brings a firm, direct, and communicative style to mediation. He works to ensure each participant understands what is being said, what remains unresolved, and where there may be genuine room for agreement.

Nathan is available to mediate commercial and contractual disputes, trust and estate claims, property and leasing matters, neighbour disputes, and other civil disagreements. He aims to provide a disciplined and constructive process in which parties can speak candidly, assess their choices realistically, and work toward practical terms that bring the dispute to a lasting conclusion. Read more



Rachael Chandra

Employment, Relationship Property

Rachael Chandra is an experienced dispute resolution practitioner with a background spanning employment, relationship property, civil litigation, insurance, trusts, and estates. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with individuals, families, employees, employers, and businesses to resolve disputes constructively, pragmatically, and cost effectively.

Rachael has extensive experience participating in employment mediations, relationship property mediations, Judicial Settlement Conferences, and round table settlement negotiations. This experience has given her a deep understanding of the legal, commercial, and personal dynamics that arise when parties are seeking to resolve disputes and move forward.

She recognises that every dispute involves people with their own concerns, interests, and goals. Rachael focuses on ensuring parties feel heard and respected, understand the key issues in dispute, and have the opportunity to explore common ground. Her calm and practical approach helps facilitate meaningful discussions, reality-test positions, and identify workable solutions.

Drawing on her broad dispute resolution experience, Rachael works collaboratively with parties to navigate complex conversations and achieve practical, durable outcomes. She is particularly experienced in matters involving employment disputes, relationship property, trusts and estates, and other disputes where ongoing relationships and personal considerations play an important role.

Rachael provides mediation services through The Mediation Hub, where she acts as an independent and neutral mediator, helping parties work through disputes efficiently, confidentially, and constructively.

Outside of work, Rachael volunteers at the Eden/Albert Citizens Advice Bureau and serves on the board of Family Action. She is passionate about supporting families and communities through positive change and practical solutions. Read more

Natalie Miller

Civil Litigation, Relationship Property, Leases

Admitted to the bar in 2008, Natalie has spent many years helping people navigate complex and often emotionally charged conflicts, giving her a deep understanding of the legal, practical, and personal issues that can arise when interests collide. Natalie is available to mediate a wide range of disputes, including relationship property matters, estate and trust disputes, family protection and testamentary promises claims, and other civil disagreements. Drawing on her extensive litigation experience, she understands the risks, costs, and uncertainty that can accompany unresolved disputes and uses that insight to help parties focus on achieving practical and durable solutions.

Natalie's preferred mediation style is fair, balanced, and outcome-focused. She works collaboratively with participants to identify the real issues in dispute, test assumptions, and explore options for resolution. While remaining impartial, she is adept at managing competing interests, facilitating constructive dialogue, and helping parties move beyond entrenched positions toward common ground. Known for her practical and measured approach, Natalie is committed to creating an environment where all participants feel heard and respected while keeping momentum toward resolution. Her goal is to assist parties to reach robust, workable, and fair outcomes that stand the test of time and avoid the financial and emotional costs of ongoing conflict. Read more