Akono'anga kaveinga mātūtū

Strategy & counsel, shoulder to shoulder.

A boutique Cook Islands legal and strategy practice with a stubborn belief — the best work happens alongside you, not at you. We listen first, roll up our sleeves, and help build what comes next.

Based

Rutaki, Rarotonga

Practice

Legal · Strategy · Policy

Founders

Herman & Herman

Henry and Bianca Herman, Kaveinga Mātūtū co-founders
01 · Our Why

The reason
we show up.

"To co-create purpose-led strategy and implement solutions in partnership with clients, so that together, we can positively impact our community."

Unique value proposition

Akono'anga kaveinga mātūtū — we don't just advise, we walk alongside. Strategy, legal counsel, and solutions built with you.

What this looks like

Partnerships with Government agencies, State-Owned Enterprises, private sector, NGOs, and family offices across the Cook Islands and Aotearoa.

02 · Our Values

Four words that
anchor the work.

Each value is a principle carried in reo Māori Kuki 'Āirani — the living language of the Cook Islands — and applied daily in how we engage.

01 handshake

Pirianga

Connection

Meaningful relationships — built on trust, held with care, and carried across generations.

02 bolt

Mātūtū

Empowerment

Strength through clarity. We equip clients with the knowledge and tools to lead their own journey.

03 lightbulb

Kite karape umereia

Innovation

Creative thinking that honours tradition while opening new possibilities for Pacific enterprise.

04 diversity_3

Akono'anga tangata

People-focussed

Every decision, structure and recommendation starts from — and returns to — the people it serves.

03 · What We Do

Two practices.
One integrated approach.

gavel Practice 01

Legal Services

Trusted counsel across the areas that matter most to Cook Islands families, enterprises, and institutions.

  • Land
  • Commercial
  • Civil
  • Family
  • Legislative analysis, advice & review
insights Practice 02

Professional Consulting

From purpose and strategy through to policy, consultation, and delivery — we co-create and implement.

  • Strategy — aligning organisational strategy to purpose and values, with tools to match.
  • Policy development
  • Consultation — leading engagement, including in reo Māori Kuki 'Āirani.
  • Project consulting — generating solutions that deliver outcomes efficiently.
  • Implementation — turning strategy into action.
  • Workshop facilitation
04 · The Founders

Led by practitioners
rooted in place.

Henry Herman

Henry Herman

Strategy & Legal Advisor

LLB BSc 17 yrs legal

Former NZ partner and Land & Legal General Manager at the Cook Islands Investment Corporation. A specialist in land acquisition, landowner engagement, and high-stakes projects. Founder of Kai no te Ora'anga Tau — a community collective for food security.

  • Board Chair, Tereora College (2024 — present)
  • Board Chair, CIDANZ (2015 — 2021)
  • GM Land & Legal, CIIC (2021 — 2023)
  • Fluent reo Māori Kuki 'Āirani
Bianca Herman

Bianca Herman

Strategy, Policy & Wellbeing

LLB BA PG · Leading Beyond Sustainability 11 yrs legal

Former NZ Senior Associate and CIDANZ Programme Lead. Now consulting across Government, SOEs, private sector, and NGOs on policy, strategy, and programme delivery. Chopra-certified wellbeing coach bringing holistic practice to organisational work.

  • Board Vice Chair, Apii Nikao (2023 — present)
  • Programme Lead, CIDANZ (2021 — 2023)
  • Wellbeing Coach (Chopra certified)
  • Values-based strategy & implementation
05 · Let's begin

Ready to chart
a purposeful course?

Reach out to either of our founders directly. We'll listen first, then work alongside you to co-create what comes next.

Address

Rutaki, Arorangi, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Reg. C10479 RMD 49484