Wilberforce Tupua
Associate | Kaiwawao

LLB, BA (University of Auckland)

Contact
wjt@lcc.co.nz
+64 4 473 2162

 

Wilber specialises in criminal and regulatory prosecutions. He acts for, and provides advice to, a variety of public sector clients on investigations, enforcement, and public law issues. His experience to date includes advising and acting for Crown entities and government departments.

Wilber holds the classification of Intermediate Crown prosecutor. He has prosecuted serious criminal offences on behalf of the Crown including sexual offending, drugs, and serious violence. Wilber has prosecuted several jury trials as lead counsel in the District Court, and has appeared as second chair in complex High Court trials. He has also represented the Crown on appeals in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

In addition to his criminal and regulatory experience, he is frequently instructed by the Department of Corrections to appear in parole hearings and applications for Extended Supervision Orders.

Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Wilber worked as a criminal defence lawyer in Auckland.

Recent and notable work:

  • Prosecuted the case of Department of Internal Affairs v Blair Street Limited & Ors [2023] NZDC 15841 regarding breaches of the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010.

  • Acting for the Environmental Protection Authority in the prosecution of a company under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.

  • Second chair in a complex five-week murder trial R v B [2025] NZHC 1461.

  • Second chair in a manslaughter case concerning “battered woman syndrome” R v Henry [2024] NZHC 2803.

  • Lead prosecutor in Operation Dark Orchid, concerning a global website distributing 85,000 computer-generated child sexual exploitation images.

  • One of the lead prosecutors in Operation Skipjack, a case concerning one of the highest quantities of Class B (GBL) supplies in New Zealand.