Melissa Easther

Melissa has extensive experience in legislative policy, from long-term reform projects, to fast-paced, reactive legislative change, as in the first months of the COVID pandemic. She’s a former Private Secretary, and has a deep understanding of how central government works.

Melissa excels in both the deep thinking and difficult analysis involved in major reforms, and the quicker, reactive policy work where clients need to know how to scale their ambitions to tight timelines.

She has developed in-depth knowledge across a range of policy areas through her work with various government agencies, including the Ministries of Health, Transport, and Housing and Urban Development.

Examples of Melissa's work

• Leading law changes around emergency and transitional housing, and helping shape significant reforms to the Unit Titles Act and the Residential Tenancies Act  
• Developing an occupational regulation regime for the residential-property management industry, including engaging extensively with the industry, as well as public consultation and cross-government collaboration
• Developing a strategic narrative for MBIE’s Energy and Resource Markets branch, and a plan for New Zealand’s transition to a lower-emissions transport sector.