The Crown has signed a deed of settlement with Taranaki Iwi settling all their outstanding historical Treaty claims at Pukeiti Gardens, Taranaki, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC has thanked Solicitor-General Michael Heron QC for three years of outstanding service to the Crown, following Mr Heron’s decision to step down from the role.
“When Mr Heron was appointed Solicitor-General in 2012, he indicated he would serve at least three years in the role,” Mr Finlayson said. “His family has remained in Auckland and he has decided it is time to return home. He has agreed to stay on until a successor is appointed.”
The Honourable Justice Stephen Kós has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Attorney General Christopher Finlayson announced today.
Justice Kós graduated LLB (Hons) from Victoria University in 1981 and LLM from Cambridge University in 1985. He became a partner in Perry Wylie Pope & Page in 1985, and in Russell McVeagh in 1988. He joined the independent bar in 2005 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2007.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC today expressed his disappointment at the lack of rigour shown by the Law Society in its recent press release criticising provisions of the Health and Safety Reform Bill.
“Law Society President Chris Moore claimed that Schedule 2A of the Health and Safety Reform Bill would allow a person to be tried of a criminal offence without seeing all the information relied on by the Crown and without the right to be present (or to have their representative present) during all the proceedings. This is wrong,” Mr Finlayson said.
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson has today responded to Hauraki District Council Mayor John Tregidga’s statements about Hauraki Treaty negotiations.
“The Crown is committed to completing historical Treaty settlement negotiations with the iwi of Hauraki as quickly as possible,” Mr Finlayson said.
The Hawke’s Bay Regional Planning Committee Bill passed its third reading in the House today, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced.
“When enacted, this bill will give effect to the Crown’s commitment, made in the Ngāti Pāhauwera Deed of Settlement and recorded in the Maungaharuru-Tangitū Deed of Settlement, to work with iwi and hapū to establish a joint Māori-Council body in the Hawke’s Bay,” Mr Finlayson said.
The Hineuru Claims Settlement Bill and the Ngāruahine Claims Settlement Bill passed their first readings today in 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 Hineuru and the Crown on 2 April 2015 and Ngāruahine and the Crown on 1 August 2014.
“The government is making great progress towards settling historical Treaty grievances, signing 48 deeds of settlement in the last six years,” Mr Finlayson said.
Alan Ritchie has been appointed Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Kathryn Snook has been appointed Deputy Judicial Conduct Commissioner, both for a term of five years effective from 31 August 2015, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.
Mr Ritchie has been the Deputy Judicial Conduct Commissioner since 2011 and was Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the New Zealand Law Society from 1985 to 2008.
Auckland barrister Debra Bell has been appointed a coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.
Ms Bell fills the vacancy created when Judge Deborah Marshall was appointed Chief Coroner earlier this year. She joins four other coroners serving Auckland, Henderson, Manukau, Papakura, Pukekohe and Takapuna.
Three lawyers have been appointed Queen’s Counsel this year, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.
They are:
“The appointment to the rank of Queen’s Counsel recognises independent advocates who have excelled at the highest level of law,” Mr Finlayson said.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced he is satisfied with the conduct of Crown Law in relation to R v Banks.
“Following the release of the Court of Appeal’s recent decision in R v Banks and a number of adverse comments made in the media, I indicated I would take a careful look at Crown Law’s management of the case in my capacity as minister responsible for the Crown Law Office. I have now done so.
Kevin Riordan ONZM has been appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.
Mr Riordan has been Deputy Judge Advocate General and Deputy Chief Judge of the Court Martial since October 2013. He takes over from Christopher Hodson QC who is retiring.
Ten acting District Court Judges have been appointed, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.
Warren Cathcart, barrister and solicitor of Auckland, has been appointed as an acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to serve in the Gisborne District Court. Judge Cathcart will be sworn in on 7 August 2015 in Auckland.
Richard Earwaker, barrister of Auckland, has been appointed as an acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to serve in the Manukau District Court. Judge Earwaker will be sworn in on 12 August 2015 in Auckland.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to former Chief Justice of New Zealand, Sir Ronald Davison GBE, CMG, QC, who died last week aged 94.
“Sir Ronald was a highly respected New Zealander who made a significant contribution to law and justice system reforms,” Mr Finlayson said.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the establishment of the Legislation Design and Advisory Committee to improve the quality and effectiveness of legislation.
“The new committee is similar to the former Legislation Advisory Committee but will provide advice to government agencies about the design and content of bills earlier on in their development,” Mr Finlayson said.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the reappointment of David Noble as Chief Parliamentary Counsel to 6 May 2016.
“Mr Noble’s reappointment will provide consistent leadership to this important role,” Mr Finlayson said.
Christchurch Queen’s Counsel Nicholas Davidson and Auckland Barrister and Solicitor Rebecca Anne Edwards have been appointed Judges of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson announced today.
Justice Davidson graduated with an LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury in 1971 and became a barrister and solicitor with Duncan Cotterill & Co. in Christchurch. In 1974 he left that firm to join Young Hunter & Co, becoming a partner in 1975.
The term of the current Acting Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), Una Jagose, has been extended to 31 March 2016, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Christopher Finlayson, announced today.
“The Government has decided not to continue with the State Services Commission’s current recruitment process and instead extend Ms Jagose’s appointment as Acting Director,” Mr Finlayson said.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson is tonight hosting a function at Parliament to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta.
“Over time, Magna Carta has come to represent a number of fundamental principles including the protection of human rights, freedom of religion, the right to justice and, most importantly, the rule of law,” Mr Finlayson said.
This Parliamentary function forms part of a programme of events across New Zealand coordinated by the Magna Carta 800 Committee for New Zealand.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to former New Zealand Law Society President, John Marshall CNZM QC, who died yesterday.
“Mr Marshall was both a highly respected member of the legal profession and a friend,” Mr Finlayson said.
The son of former Prime Minister, Sir Jack Marshall, John Marshall had a distinguished career in the law as a litigation partner in Buddle Findlay and barrister. In addition, he was Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission and was heavily involved in the Presbyterian Church.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson travels to New York today to attend the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Open Briefing on foreign terrorist fighters.
“New Zealand, along with many members of the international community, is facing complex issues related to the radicalisation, recruitment and travel of foreign terrorist fighters,” Mr Finlayson said.
Lithuania is chairing the Briefing that will assess the progress made towards implementing Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014), which specifically addresses foreign terrorist fighters.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the appointment of Hon Kate Wilkinson of Christchurch and the reappointment of Ms Kathryn Edmonds of Wellington as Commissioners of the Environment Court, both for a five year term.
The Crown and the Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority (Tūhoronuku IMA) have signed Terms of Negotiation and are ready to begin negotiating a Treaty settlement for the benefit of all Ngāpuhi, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.
Tūhoronuku IMA is the mandated representative of Ngāpuhi, New Zealand’s largest iwi, for Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations.
Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to the life and career of former Supreme Court Judge, the Rt Hon Sir Thomas Munro Gault, KNZM, QC, who died in Auckland earlier this week.
“Sir Thomas was one of the great leaders of the New Zealand legal profession,” Mr Finlayson said. “He was a distinguished member of the judiciary and a highly respected practitioner, particularly in the areas of intellectual property and competition law.”
