Christopher Finlayson
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Auckland lawyers Mathew Downs and Sally Fitzgerald have been appointed Judges of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. Both new Judges will sit in Auckland.

Justice Downs graduated with an LLB(Hons) from Otago University in 1993, an LLM(Hons) from Cambridge University in 2001 and a Doctorate in Law from Otago University in 2011.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The Crown has signed a Deed of Settlement with Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Tamaki nui-ā-Rua (Rangitāne) settling the iwi’s historical Treaty claims, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“Rangitāne has been working towards settlement with the Crown for almost 30 years,” Mr Finlayson said. “Today marks the beginning of a new relationship between Rangitāne and the Crown.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Two Acting District Court Judges have been appointed, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. Both will hold Family Court warrants.

Rangiora barrister and solicitor John Brandts-Giesen has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge in Invercargill.

Mr Brandts-Giesen commenced practice as a staff solicitor for Raymond Donnelly in 1976. In 1980 he became a partner in the firm now known as Lane Neave before joining the partnership Brandts-Giesen McCormick Lawyers in 1994.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Wellington District Court Judge John Walker has been appointed Principal Youth Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

His appointment follows former Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft’s appointment as Children’s Commissioner.

Judge Walker was admitted to the bar in 1975. He practised with Macalister Mazengarb and as a barrister in Wellington before his appointment to the Bench in 1994. 

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The Honourable Justice Dame Ellen France has been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court and the Honourable Justice Stephen Kós will replace her as President of the Court of Appeal, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Honourable Justice Raynor Asher and the Honourable Justice Brendan Brown have been appointed Judges of the Court of Appeal.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Wellington Queen’s Counsel Helen Cull has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Cull graduated with a LLB(Hons) in 1978 from Victoria University of Wellington and began her legal career at Brandons. In 1983 she joined the partnership of Tripe Matthews and Feist, leaving in 1990 to join the independent bar. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The House of Representatives sat through extended sitting hours this morning to pass the Hineuru Claims Settlement Bill through its third reading.

“The Hineuru Claims Settlement Act will give effect to the full and final settlement of Hineuru’s historical Treaty of Waitangi claims,” Mr Finlayson said.

“The Hineuru settlement includes financial and commercial redress of $25 million, a $2 million fund for cultural development and the return of a number of sites of cultural significance to the iwi.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today set out the reasons for the Crown’s decision to accept the manslaughter pleas of Tania Shailer and David Haerewa in substitution of murder charges for the killing of Moko Rangitoheriri.

Ms Shailer and Mr Haerewa were today both sentenced to 17 years in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of nine years. Until that sentencing took place, the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General were unable to comment on the specifics of the case, as the sentencing was a matter for the courts.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Twelve lawyers have been appointed Queen’s Counsel this year, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

They are:

  • Derek Nolan, Aaron Perkins, Kieran Raftery, David Bigio, Jane Anderson, Marc Corlett, Vanessa Bruton
  • Richard Raymond
  • John Prebble, Kenneth Johnston, Victoria Casey, Una Jagose.

“The appointment to the rank of Queen’s Counsel recognises individuals who have excelled at the highest level of law,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Budget 2016 provides $19.7 million of new operating funding for Crown prosecutions over the next four years.

“This investment will ensure serious offenders continue to be held to account through New Zealand’s high-quality Crown prosecution services,” Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC says.

Crown prosecutions are managed by Crown Law through a network of 17 Crown Solicitors who are responsible for the conduct of prosecutions on behalf of the Crown. Each Crown Solicitor is a partner in a private law firm.

Christopher Finlayson Budget 2016 Attorney-General
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The Budget will enable our security agencies to remain effective in a rapidly-evolving security environment, NZSIS and GCSB Minister Christopher Finlayson says.

The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) will receive new operating and capital funding of $178.7 million over four years as part of Budget 2016.

“A fundamental responsibility of the Government is to protect the safety of New Zealanders,” Mr Finlayson says.

Christopher Finlayson NZ Security Intelligence Service GCSB Budget 2016
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The House of Representatives sat through extended sitting hours this morning to pass Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill and the Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngā Pōtiki Claims Settlement Bill through their first readings. The bills have been referred to the Māori Affairs Committee.

“Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill addresses the historical grievances of Whanganui Iwi in relation to the Whanganui River,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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A bill to modernise and consolidate the laws underpinning contracts and commercial transactions has been introduced, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

“Today is a great day for the statute book,” Mr Finlayson said. “This revision Bill will assist people and businesses to find and follow the rules that apply to them, helping to reduce regulatory costs.”

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Two Acting District Court Judges have been appointed, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today. Both will hold jury warrants.

Hamilton barrister and solicitor Philip Crayton has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge in Whanganui.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The Crown has signed an Agreement in Principle with Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui-ā-Rua to settle its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today. 

“Today marks an important step in settling all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of Ngāti Kahungunu in the Wairarapa and the Tāmaki Nui-ā-Rua regions,” Mr Finlayson said. “This agreement provides a basis for the Crown and the iwi to develop a detailed deed of settlement.”

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Three Acting District Court Judges have been appointed, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Kevin Kelly of Wellington has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge in Wellington.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The House of Representatives sat through extended sitting hours this morning to pass the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective Redress and Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Claims Settlement Bill, the Ngāti Pūkenga Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill through their first readings. The bills have been referred to the Māori Affairs Committee.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Tauranga Queen’s Counsel Paul Mabey has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based initially in Tauranga then in Rotorua, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Mr Mabey practised as a litigation solicitor for 18 years in Christchurch, Palmerston North and Tauranga. In 1994 he joined the independent bar conducting criminal and general litigation. In 2000 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel and has since specialised in criminal law.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Auckland barrister Mina Wharepouri has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based in Manukau, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Mr Wharepouri commenced his career with Kensington Swan in 1995. He moved to Russell McVeagh in 1997 where he was counsel for several Māori claimants in proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Between 2003 and 2011 Mr Wharepouri worked for Meredith Connell leading District Court and High Court jury trials. He also trained police in matters relating to evidence and prosecution.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC today announced four re-appointments and one new appointment as lay members of the High Court under the Commerce Act 1986, effective today.

Lay members assist the Court in cases involving appeals from decisions of the Commerce Commission and in other matters under the Commerce Act. They must have specialist knowledge or experience in industry, commerce, economics, law or accountancy.

The lay members of the High Court are appointed for terms of five years.

The appointees are:

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Wellington barrister and solicitor James Johnston has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based in Wellington, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Mr Johnston is Chairman of Partners at Rainey Collins Lawyers. He joined the firm in 1989 and has been a partner since 1994. Prior to becoming a commercial lawyer, Mr Johnston was a litigator dealing mainly with Treaty of Waitangi claims. He has also appeared in the District Court and High Court on a variety of criminal and Family Court matters. He is of Ngati Porou descent.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Michael Robb has been appointed a Coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today. Mr Robb replaces Coroner Peter Ryan who has transferred from Hamilton to Wellington.

Mr Robb is currently employed at Almao Douch as a senior prosecutor for the Crown Solicitor firm. He maintained a private criminal litigation practice from 1995 to 2014 and prior to that was a litigation instructor at the Professional Legal Studies Hamilton office. He has also been a Visiting Justice for the past 10 years sitting at Waikeria, Rangipo and Spring Hill prisons.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The Te Atiawa Claims Settlement Bill, the Taranaki Iwi Claims Settlement Bill and the Rangitāne o Manawatu Claims Settlement Bill passed their first readings today in Parliament during extended sitting hours, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced.

When enacted, the bills will give effect to the deeds of settlement signed between Te Atiawa and the Crown on 9 August 2014, Taranaki Iwi and the Crown on 5 September 2015, and Rangitāne o Manawatū and the Crown on 14 November 2015.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Christchurch lawyer Mark Zarifeh has been appointed Crown Solicitor for Christchurch and Greymouth, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

The appointment follows Brent Stanaway’s retirement from the role of Crown Solicitor for Christchurch and Greymouth on 30 October 2015 after 23 years of service.

Mr Zarifeh is a partner at the firm Raymond Donnelly & Co which has supported successive Crown Solicitors to deliver Crown prosecution services to Christchurch since 1914 and to Greymouth since 1984.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General