Legacy in my name, advocacy in my blood, whānau at the heart of my work.

My name is Alice LaHatte, and Lahatte Legacy is the story I carry forward — a weaving of whakapapa, lived experience, and the quiet strength of the people who shaped me.

This legacy begins with my father, an esteemed family mediator whose calm presence guided the rhythm of my childhood. He taught me that conflict can be softened, that listening is an act of care, and that families can find their way back to each other through patience and dignity. His name sits at the heart of my practice, not just as a tribute, but as a compass — a reminder of the gentle steadiness he modelled every day.

My mother’s influence is equally powerful. She was among the first women in Aotearoa to graduate with a Women’s Studies degree from the University of Auckland, a milestone that shaped the landscape of feminist scholarship in New Zealand. Her courage, her advocacy, and her insistence that women’s voices matter became the foundation of my own commitment to women’s rights, safety, and empowerment. From her, I learned that legacy is not only inherited — it is created.

My academic qualifications are from a diverse background. I have a Bachelor of Social work and professional mediation training from AMINZ. Including a range of professional development that has continued to shape my practice. My father always said “The day you no longer want to keep on learning in your field is the day you retire.”

I carry the importance of my academic teachings into my work as a social worker, mediator, and therapeutic practitioner. I also draw on my own lived experience. I have separated. I have sat in mediation rooms. I have rebuilt communication after rupture. I balance the art of co‑parenting both my biological child and my stepchild, navigating the shifting rhythms, routines, the emotional weight, and the challenges that can sit beneath shared care.

This journey has taught me compassion, resilience, and the truth that families are not defined by perfection — they are defined by how we show up for one another through change. We are paving the way for our own tamariki’s legacy.

Lahatte Legacy is the weaving of all these threads:

A father’s guidance,

A mother’s advocacy,

A professional path shaped by care,

and a personal story shaped by courage.

It is a practice grounded in gentleness, clarity, and connection — supporting whānau to move forward with dignity, hope, and a legacy they can be proud of.

Ethics 101

  • My professional boundaries are guided by the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Mediators and Arbitrators (AMINZ), the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW), the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) Code of Conduct, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and New Zealand law. These frameworks require me to remain completely neutral in mediation and to provide therapeutic support only when I am not acting as a mediator.

    These boundaries uphold Te Tiriti principles of partnership, protection, and participation, and ensure every whānau is supported with dignity, cultural safety, and clarity.

  • No — once I am your mediator, I cannot also be your therapist. Mediation and therapy have different purposes, responsibilities, and ethical frameworks. Mediation is a neutral, child‑focused process where I support both parents equally. Therapy is a private, supportive space for one person or one whānau. Mixing these roles would compromise neutrality, safety, and trust.

    If you need therapeutic support, I can help you explore individual therapy options with a different practitioner.

  • Because a mediator must remain completely neutral. If I were to offer therapy to one parent, I would no longer be able to hold an unbiased space for both. Therapy involves advocacy, emotional exploration, and supporting one person’s wellbeing. Mediation requires balance, fairness, and equal care for both parents.

    Keeping these roles separate protects the integrity of the process and ensures your tamariki’s needs remain at the centre.

  • No — if I have been your therapist, I cannot later become your mediator. Therapy creates a deep, trusting relationship with one person. That relationship would make it impossible for me to be neutral in mediation. If mediation becomes necessary, I can help you find a suitable mediator who can support both parents equally.

  • Once I am your mediator, I can support you with:

    • Co‑parenting support (non‑therapeutic, practical guidance)

    • Communication coaching focused on child‑centred interactions

    • Clarifying or refining your parenting plan

    • Helping you iron out practical issues in existing agreements or court orders

    • Whānau‑centred guidance that stays within the boundaries of neutrality

    These supports help you bring your mediation decisions to life without crossing into therapy.

  • Once mediation starts, I cannot:

    • Provide individual therapy to either parent

    • Provide whānau therapy to the family

    • Advocate for one parent

    • Offer legal advice

    • Take sides or interpret agreements in favour of one party

    • Become involved in disputes outside the mediation scope

    These boundaries keep the process safe, fair, and centred on your tamariki.

  • You’re welcome to access therapy — just with a different practitioner. Many families benefit from therapy alongside mediation. Therapy supports emotional wellbeing; mediation supports practical decision‑making. Keeping these roles separate ensures both processes remain ethical, safe, and effective.