our services

Zavést works closely with New Zealand’s leading independent forensic consultancy, The Forensic Group.

In addition, Zavést directors provide specialist expert evidence in:
- Firearms
- Controlled drugs and illicit drug markets

Public Interest, Civil Society & Media

Zavést is recognised nationally and internationally for its public interest and civil society investigations, drawing on nearly half a century of combined experience in wrongful conviction work, systemic justice issues, and complex social investigations.
Our work has directly contributed to more than $8 million in compensation for victims of wrongful conviction.
Beyond criminal justice, we also investigate labour rights abuses, worker exploitation, and human trafficking in New Zealand and overseas.

Zavést collaborates extensively with civil society organisations, NGOs, and media to expose wrongdoing, highlight policy failures, and advocate for individuals and communities without a voice.
Our investigations have informed major television and online documentaries, and our team has contributed reporting and analysis to publications including E-Tangata, The Spinoff, and The New Zealand Herald.

Our work in this space includes:
- Wrongful convictions and wrongful imprisonment
- Legal aid investigations
- Consumer rights issues
- Labour rights and worker exploitation
- Human trafficking investigations
- Human rights violations
- Environmental crime
- Supply chain tracing and integrity assessments
- Contracted investigations for international NGOs

Government

Since our inception, Zavést has regularly provided investigative services to a broad range of government agencies. We have particular expertise in fraud, regulatory enforcement, and environmental investigations.
In recent years, we have also supported Royal Commissions of Inquiry, leveraging our networks, relationships, and specialist investigative capability.

Our services include:
- Commission of Inquiry investigations
- Regulatory and compliance investigations
- Prosecution support for government agencies

Legal Services & Litigation Support

New Zealand’s adversarial justice system depends on equality of arms.
Zavést is regularly engaged by counsel – across both the criminal and civil jurisdictions – to provide independent, robust investigative support.
Our independence allows us to fully commit to our client’s case: identifying and gathering evidence that supports their case and critically assessing weaknesses in the opposing case.
We provide litigation support from the earliest stages of contemplation of proceedings through to verdict.

Our experience includes, but is not limited to:
- Criminal: all categories of criminal investigations and prosecutions
- Miscarriages of justice
- Commercial: fraud, due diligence, employment checks
- Civil disputes
- Family matters
- Missing persons
- Environmental offending: including the Resource Management Act, Biosecurity Act, and Environmental Act
- Department of Conservation mentorship: supporting DOC teams in law enforcement and investigative practice

Core Legal Investigation Services
- Locating, interviewing, and briefing witnesses
- Interviewing accused persons, including obtaining signed instructions
- Revisiting scenes and documenting evidence
- Reviewing disclosure to identify investigative opportunities, evidence gaps or procedural failings
- Uplifting firearms on behalf of counsel to secure credit for clients
- Firearms examinations
- Assisting with the release of remand prisoners into our care for trial preparation
- Managing and preparing witnesses for trial
- Undertaking factual enquiries aligned with trial arguments, stay applicants, or fair trail issues.

Forensic & Expert Services