Counsel · Barrister and Head of Chambers
Quentin Duff
More than 150 jury trials, and the judgement that comes with them.
In brief
Quentin Duff is the head of Mātai Chambers, which he founded with Gowan Duff. He brings nearly three decades of serious criminal trial and appellate advocacy, and an established reputation for strategic litigation in New Zealand's most complex criminal cases.
The Crown has resources, investigators, and time. A defence needs counsel who has spent a career standing between the Crown and the person in the dock. More than 150 jury trials on, Quentin has met almost every situation a courtroom can produce. He knows how juries think, how witnesses break under pressure, and where the weaknesses in a Crown case hide.
He has appeared in the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, and knows how an argument develops from trial to the highest court. That view shapes how he prepares a case from the first day. The District Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal regularly appoint him as amicus curiae to assist self-represented defendants.
He is of Ngāiterangi, Te Arawa, and Ngāti Raukawa descent, and one of the most senior Māori barristers in the country.
Behind him is a team of barristers who support clients from bail through trial and appeal. Whether a client faces charges for the first time or has been through the system before, Quentin works from one understanding: to them, this case is everything.
Time at the bar
- Iwi
- Ngāiterangi, Te Arawa, and Ngāti Raukawa
- Education
- LLM, Victoria University of Wellington
- Admitted
- 22 May 1998
- Jury trials
- 150+
- Instructing
- Privately, through solicitors or directly
- Legal aid
- All criminal categories: PAL 1 to 4, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court
- Juniors
- Guneesh Jubal, Cate McConnell, and Young Sun
Selected cases
- Red Fox Tavern murder convictions set aside; acquittals enteredAppeal against the murder and aggravated robbery convictions allowed; the verdicts were unreasonable. For Mr Hoggart, with S L McColgan and G Duff.Wilson v R [2026] NZSC 88Supreme Court, 7 July 2026
- Murder charge dismissed at trial; acquitted of manslaughterDischarged on murder at the close of the prosecution case, then found not guilty of manslaughter by the jury. Co-counsel, led by S McColgan.R v SHigh Court, October 2025
- Acquitted of murder and manslaughterMurder trial run on self-defence. With G Duff.R v NathanHigh Court, April 2024
- Aggravated robbery conviction quashedConvicted at a trial held in his absence, while his co-accused was acquitted. The Court of Appeal found the identification evidence left the conviction unsafe, and ordered no retrial. With G Duff.F v RCourt of Appeal, 2 November 2023
- Acquitted of murderMurder trial. Found guilty of being an accessory after the fact. With G Duff and W Rhodes.R v RHigh Court, September 2023
- Amicus curiae in a bail appealAppointed to assist the Court. Appeal unsuccessful. With W Rhodes.M v RCourt of Appeal, August 2023
- Murder and kidnapping trialFound guilty on all counts. With S McColgan.R v PHigh Court, May to June 2023
- Red Fox Tavern murder appealAppeal against the murder and aggravated robbery convictions, dismissed. The Supreme Court later allowed the further appeal and entered acquittals. For Mr Hoggart, with S L McColgan and G Duff.Wilson v R [2023] NZCA 155Court of Appeal, 5 May 2023
- Waikeria Prison riot trialGuilty pleas to amended charges five weeks into trial. With W Rhodes.R v LHigh Court, February 2023
- Acquitted of a shootingWounding charge. Acquitted of shooting the complainant. With W Rhodes.R v EDistrict Court, August 2022
- Name suppression appeal allowedAppeal against a High Court decision declining name suppression until the end of the jury trial.TK v RCourt of Appeal, August 2022
- Acquitted of murder and manslaughter of his childMurder trial. With I Stewart.R v PJune 2022
