About Your Employment Rights Advocates

Meet the team that are committed to ensuring you have the best advice and support tackle your employment issues.

Meet Ruth Pettengell

Email: ruth@advocatesatwork.co.nz
Phone: 021 563 623

I'm Ruth Pettengell, your dedicated Employment Law specialist. If you're facing an unfair or unpleasant situation at work and need to understand your rights, I'm here to provide the expert advice and support required to tackle your situation head-on.

I started Advocates at Work after experiencing workplace bullying firsthand. I learned effective strategies for managing all workplace relationship issues and have since dedicated my career to helping employees understand, navigate and get fair outcomes for their own challenging situations.

With over 60 clients a year, I've successfully helped clients win cases of bullying, unfair dismissal, redundancy, unreasonable performance appraisals, disciplinary meetings, and medical dismissals. There's nothing that surprises me anymore, and I've successfully taken on and won big and small cases.

With degrees in Psychology and Political Science, I understand how people react to stressful situations. Coupled with nearly a decade of experience as an Employment Law Advocate and a strong track record with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), I know how to navigate New Zealand's employment dispute resolution system. I've successfully represented employees in personal grievances, mediations, and ERA hearings, and know how to use these processes to achieve a fair outcome.

My extensive Employment Law experience means whatever your workplace problem, I can help you!

Meet David Dewhurst

Kia Ora, I’m David Dewhurst, and I’m here to listen, advise, and guide you through to resolution of issues that have challenged workplace relationships.

I’m motivated by a strong sense of fairness and social justice. I believe everyone should be heard and treated properly, but I know that’s not always the case in difficult workplaces. Often, people feel powerless or ignored—that’s where I step in to help.

I use my training from a Master of Arts Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Management to help me analyse complex situations and find solutions to problems.

I also bring more than 30 years of experience as a people-centred Manager to my Employment Advocacy work. As someone who has worked with Business Owners and Managers to help them build better relationships with teams over the years, I understand how workplace dynamics can become difficult. I now use this experience to assist employees who are facing challenges at work and I help employees find the best solution in the circumstances.

In the past two years I have particularly concentrated on migrant worker issues and helped over 50 people by guiding them through situations that frightened and bewildered them.

I take a calm and empathetic approach, focusing on understanding the facts of your situation and providing clear, practical advice based on New Zealand Employment Law. My role is to make sure your voice is heard and to work with you towards a fair outcome.

Get in Touch

Thank you Ruth for the support, professionalism, and empathy that you showed me throughout a difficult experience in my career. From the moment we spoke on the phone until the final conversation we had - Ruth listened carefully, understood the emotional and legal complexities, and gave me the confidence to stand up for myself without fear. She navigated a stressful and hostile situation with clarity and strength, helping me secure a respectful exit. She was responsive, honest, and her guidance made me feel protected every step of the way. I cannot recommend Ruth highly enough. She truly advocates not just legally, but personally too!

OA from Auckland

David and Ruth you have been both more than advocates in a professional setting, you have also been a great support for us mentally when it comes to taking on the emotional effects of something like this, and having the validation to know what we were experiencing wasn't right or fair means alot to us - so thank you again.

AS & MT Christchurch

After years of service I was faced with a sudden wrongful dismissal, I was lost and faced with a scary situation, feeling powerless to do anything I reached out and I came across Ruth, she was nothing but fantastic and understanding, she listened to what I had to say and helped me feel at ease with the situation. She was nothing but professional and effective from start to finish as well as always gave realistic advice and expectations. I was very happy and relieved with the outcome she achieved, to be seen and heard in a dark time meant more than she'll know, Would recommend her in a heartbeat because she genuinely gets excited to help people in their tough situations.

LC from Hamilton

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Our Network

As members of the Employment Law Institute of New Zealand (ELINZ), we are well connected within the employment law industry and stay up to date with the latest employment laws and regulations.

In addition to our expertise, we have strong relationships with other legal experts, government organisations, and industry contacts to ensure you access to the best advice and representation. If we're not the right fit for your specific needs, we can confidently connect you with someone who is.

Reach Out Today

"Ruth has been incredible throughout my wrongful dismissal dispute, making sure I felt heard and understood. She empathised completely and remembered every minor detail from our first conversation.

Your care, compassion, and understanding were exceptional. I honestly couldn’t have made it through without your unwavering support. It felt as if you were right by my side, guiding me through this rollercoaster.

Thank you for everything, especially the favourable outcome. Your expertise in employment law is truly exceptional."