24 Jul 2026
3 months ago
766 views
Attorney-General Chris Bishop announced the appointment of Edward David Crook as a Judge of the High Court, effective 24 August 2026, to sit in Auckland. Justice Crook graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Cambridge and has extensive experience as a transactional lawyer specializing in real estate and construction, primarily serving institutional investors and developers. He has held leadership roles at Russell McVeagh, including chairing the Real Estate and Construction Team and the partnership, and has been a Director of the College of Law since 2007.
20 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1348 views
Attorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of Prudence McGuire and Christopher Macklin as new District Court Judges, to commence their roles in April and May 2026 at Palmerston North and Nelson Courts, respectively. Ms. McGuire, a Rotorua-based barrister with extensive experience in family and criminal law, will be sworn in on 21 April 2026, while Mr. Macklin, a Nelson-based barrister specializing in criminal and regulatory litigation, will be sworn in on 15 May 2026. Both appointees have significant legal backgrounds, including prosecutorial roles and leadership positions within the legal community.
19 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1534 views
Attorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of Victoria Louise Heine as a High Court Judge, effective 16 February 2026, in Wellington. Justice Heine has a distinguished legal career, including roles as a partner at Chen Palmer and Chapman Tripp, a barrister sole, and an Adjunct Law Lecturer, with expertise in civil remedies, regulatory disputes, and arbitration. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University, a Master of Laws from the University of Chicago, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2021.