Articles tagged with High Court
Brett Donald Tantrum Appointed High Court Judge in Auckland Effective March 2026
1 month ago | 232 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced the appointment of Brett Donald Tantrum, an experienced Auckland barrister and solicitor, as a High Court Judge effective 30 March 2026. Justice Tantrum has extensive expertise in criminal law, including prosecuting serious offences such as homicide, organised crime, and sexual violence, and has served as a Principal Crown Prosecutor since 2017. His career includes roles at Meredith Connell, a professional exchange in Sydney, and involvement in criminal appeals and public law matters.
Tags: Judith Collins Brett Donald Tantrum Auckland University of Auckland Bell Gully Meredith Connell Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Crown Law Serious Fraud Office High Court JudgeGovernment Introduces Bill to Clarify ACC Payments Impact on Welfare Entitlement
1 month ago | 285 viewsThe Government is introducing the Social Security (Accident Compensation and Calculation of Weekly Income) Amendment Bill to clarify how ACC payments affect welfare entitlements and ensure fair treatment between different recipient groups. The bill aims to align the law with longstanding policy by authorizing MSD to retrospectively adjust benefits when backdated ACC payments reduce welfare to zero and to prevent inequities where some recipients receive dual income support for the same need. This legislation responds to court rulings and will not apply retrospectively to cases filed before the bill’s introduction, promoting fairness and certainty in the welfare system.
Tags: Louise Upston Government MSD Social Security ACC Social Development and Employment Social Services and Community Select Committee Social Security Appeal Authority High Court Winter Energy PaymentNew Zealand Passes Legislation to Speed Up Courts and Add High Court Judges
3 months ago | 504 viewsParliament has passed legislation aimed at improving court timeliness by updating procedures and increasing the number of High Court Judges from 55 to 60 to expedite serious cases. The Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill introduces measures to streamline case management, prevent abuse of court processes, and enhance judicial efficiency across various courts. These changes prioritize faster justice for victims and families, ensuring the justice system operates more effectively and responsively.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Nicole McKee High Court Judges Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill Senior Courts Act Criminal Procedure Act 2011 Court of Appeal Coroners Act 2006 New Zealand Justice systemTop of the South Land Returned to Māori Descendants with Public Access Secured
3 months ago | 436 viewsApproximately 7,583 acres of Top of the South land will be returned to descendants of its original Te Tauihu Māori owners following a private litigation dating back to the 1840s, with the Crown acknowledging its legal duty and agreeing to a $420 million payment. Despite the land transfer, public access to key areas like the Abel Tasman Coast Track and Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve will continue uninterrupted under a 25-year agreement, ensuring ongoing use by visitors, schools, and local communities. This resolution differs from Treaty settlements as it involves returning land to rightful owners based on private property law, balancing legal ownership with current public and conservation uses.
Tags: Judith Collins Tama Potaka Rore Stafford Te Tauihu Māori Crown New Zealand Company Abel Tasman Great Walk Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Supreme Court High CourtPublic Inquiry Announced into Disappearance of Phillips Children
3 months ago | 377 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced a Public Inquiry into whether government agencies took all practicable steps to protect the Phillips children during their nearly four-year disappearance. The Inquiry, led by Justice Simon Moore KC, will be conducted privately to protect the children's welfare and will exclude findings on judicial decisions. A final report with recommendations is expected by 21 July 2026.
Tags: Judith Collins Phillips children Simon Moore Public Inquiry High Court Electoral Commission Auckland judicial decisions Terms of ReferenceFour New Judicial Appointments Announced for Supreme, Appeal, and High Courts
4 months ago | 529 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced four judicial appointments effective late 2025 and early 2026: Justice Francis Cooke to the Supreme Court, Justice Rebecca Edwards to the Court of Appeal, and Michael Arthur and Amokura Kawharu to the High Court. Each appointee has extensive legal backgrounds, with Cooke and Edwards previously serving as High Court judges, Arthur specializing in commercial litigation, and Kawharu noted for her academic contributions and leadership at the Law Commission. These appointments reflect a blend of legal expertise across public law, commercial litigation, arbitration, and judicial experience.
Tags: Judith Collins Francis Cooke Rebecca Edwards Michael Arthur Amokura Kawharu Victoria University of Wellington University of Auckland Cambridge University Court of Appeal High CourtHon. Justice Timothy Brewer Appointed as New Inspector-General of Defence, Natalie Pierce as Deputy
4 months ago | 483 viewsThe House has approved the appointment of High Court Judge Hon Justice Timothy Brewer as the next Inspector-General of Defence and barrister Natalie Pierce as the Deputy. Justice Brewer, a former Brigadier in the NZ Army, will retire on November 15 and assume the IGD role on December 1. Ms. Pierce, with expertise in criminal law and human rights, will start her role on November 10. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith also acknowledged the contributions of Brendan Horsley, who held the IGD role concurrently with his role as Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, in establishing the office and providing oversight.
Tags: High Court Judge Justice Timothy Brewer Natalie Pierce Deputy Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith Barrister Brendan Horsley Intelligence and SecurityAttorney-General Judith Collins Announces High Court & Environment Court Appointments in Christchurch, Auckland, & Wellington
5 months ago | 541 viewsAttorney-General Judith Collins announced High Court and Environment Court appointments for Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. Owen Paulsen, a former Associate High Court Judge, has been appointed as a High Court Judge for Christchurch. Helen Wild, with a background in law firms and public service, has been appointed as an Associate High Court Judge for Auckland, while David Caldwell, a seasoned litigator and mediator, will join the Environment Court in Wellington after serving as a partner in various law firms.
Tags: Judith Collins Owen Paulsen Helen Wild David Caldwell High Court Environment Court Christchurch Auckland Wellington Associate High Court JudgeGovernment Raises Probate Threshold to $40,000 for Faster Asset Access | 2025 Update
7 months ago | 1234 viewsThe Government has agreed to raise the probate threshold from $15,000 to $40,000 to make it easier and cheaper for families to access assets of deceased loved ones, according to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. The current threshold set in 2009 no longer reflects the value of estates, especially with KiwiSaver balances, leading to smaller estates being burdened by court costs and legal fees. The increase aims to allow executors to distribute lower-value assets more efficiently, ensuring more of the estate goes to beneficiaries, while still maintaining oversight through the High Court for higher value assets to prevent fraud or non-compliance with the deceased's wishes.
Tags: Government probate threshold assets deceased loved ones Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith KiwiSaver High Court legal fees beneficiariesKiwi Red Tape Woes: Outdated Probate Threshold Causes Delays in Estate Administration
9 months ago | 1444 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour says that red tape is giving Kiwis serious headaches, and the Red Tape Tipline has received over 750 submissions. “A submitter to the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline has complained that the threshold for probate has not kept up with inflation. This means that more Kiwis have to go through the tedious legal process that is probate, while they are mourning,” Mr Seymour says.
Tags: Administration All blacks Cabinet David seymour High court Justice Ministry Ministry for regulation New zealand Paul goldsmith Red tape tipline Regulation Regulations Rugby world cup Seymour