Christopher Finlayson
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The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau will each receive new funding of $20 million over the next four years for essential security services, NZSIS and GCSB Minister Christopher Finlayson says.

The bulk of the funding will go towards recruitment and retention of critical staff, training, core IT and vetting services.

Christopher Finlayson NZ Security Intelligence Service GCSB Budget 2015
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The Crown has purchased one of the most significant battle sites of the New Zealand Wars, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“We are pleased we could purchase this very significant site which is of great historical and cultural importance to the iwi who fought at the Battle of Ōrākau,” Mr Finlayson said.

The Ōrākau property near Kihikihi, Te Awamutu, was likely the site of a major battle between Māori and the Crown in 1864. Māori sustained many casualties and the site is recorded as a wāhi tapu area.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Brian Dickey has been appointed Crown Solicitor for Auckland and Natalie Walker Crown Solicitor for Manukau, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr Dickey will be supported by the firm, Meredith Connell, and Ms Walker by the firm Kayes Fletcher Walker.

"Mr Dickey and Ms Walker were selected from a very competitive pool of applicants and I am confident they will do an excellent job," Mr Finlayson said.

The appointments follow the decision in October 2014 to reconfigure the Auckland region from one to two new Crown Solicitor warrants.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Hineuru at Parliament, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Hineuru is an iwi based northwest of Napier in the Hawke’s Bay region. Hineuru’s historical claims relate primarily to war and raupatu, the operation of the native land laws, Crown land purchasing and virtual landlessness and its impacts.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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The Honourable Justice Helen Winkelmann, Chief High Court Judge, has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal and the Honourable Justice Geoffrey John Venning, Judge of the High Court in Auckland, has been appointed Chief High Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Winkelmann graduated from Auckland University in 1984 and was a partner with Phillips Fox for a number of years. She commenced practice at the independent bar in 2001.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson today delivered the Crown’s formal apology to Ngāruahine for historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The apology was delivered in Hokitika at the conclusion of Ngāruahine’s week-long Hikoi ki Te Waipounamu to honour the memory of the 405 members of those Ngāruahine tupuna who were transported to and detained in the South Island by the Crown after the Taranaki Wars.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has today launched the Magna Carta 800 Essay Competition for New Zealand students to recognise the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta.

“The fundamental values embodied by Magna Carta, such as rule of law, are as relevant today as they were in 1215,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Christchurch barrister Marcus Elliott has been appointed a Coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr Elliott has worked in law firms in Sydney, London and Christchurch and the legal departments of local authorities in London. He was litigation partner at Mortlock McCormack Law in Christchurch until he became a barrister sole and joined Canterbury Chambers in 2008. 

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Chief Coroner Deborah Marshall has been appointed a District Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Judge Marshall was appointed Chief Coroner effective from 13 February 2015 following the recent retirement of former Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean. 

Judge Marshall will be sworn in on 27 March 2015 at Auckland.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The Crown has signed an agreement in principle with Ngāti Tūwharetoa towards settling their historical Treaty of Waitangi claims, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa is a large iwi of around 35,000 people with an area of interest centred around Lake Taupo and the central plateau.

Christopher Finlayson Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
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Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson represented New Zealand at the Ministerial meeting of the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism in Washington DC on 19 February.

The meeting, chaired by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and addressed by President Obama, set an action agenda to counter violent extremism through community engagement.  

“In the current global environment, it is important that the international community comes together to develop best practice measures against violent extremism,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Deputy Solicitor-General Una Jagose has been appointed Acting Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau from 28 February, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Christopher Finlayson, announced today.

“Una Jagose has a reputation for hard work and delivering results,” Mr Finlayson said.

Ms Jagose was selected following advice provided by the State Services Commission.

Christopher Finlayson GCSB
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Four acting District Court Judges have been appointed, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Bernadette Farnan, barrister and solicitor of Dunedin, has been appointed as an acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant and as a Family Court Judge to serve in the Invercargill District Court. Judge Farnan will be sworn in on 16 April 2015 in Dunedin. 

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Minister responsible for the intelligence agencies, Christopher Finlayson, represented New Zealand at the second Five Countries' Ministerial meeting held in London on 6 February.

Mr Finlayson, the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary, United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Australia’s Attorney-General and Canada’s Public Safety Minister, met to discuss issues of common concern, including counter-terrorism, countering violent extremism, foreign fighters, cyber threats, information sharing and other topics.

Christopher Finlayson NZ Security Intelligence Service GCSB
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Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today that an appointment round for Queen’s Counsel will take place in 2015. 

Appointments of Queen’s Counsel are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General and with the concurrence of the Chief Justice. The Governor-General retains the discretion to appoint Queen’s Counsel in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the law in fields other than advocacy.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Auckland Coroner Deborah Marshall has been appointed the new Chief Coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. She replaces Judge Neil MacLean who is retiring after having served in the position since 2007.

Ms Marshall was appointed a Coroner for the Auckland region in January 2013. She previously held the position of General Counsel for the Serious Fraud Office. Prior to joining that office in June 2010, she was a partner at Meredith Connell, the Crown Solicitors in Auckland. 

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Christchurch Barrister and Solicitor Gerald Hope Nation has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Nation graduated with an LLB(Hons) from the University of Canterbury in 1974 and commenced work as a barrister and solicitor with Wynn Williams, where he had been employed as a law clerk for the previous year. At the end of 1975 he left Wynn Williams to travel overseas.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Attorney-General, Christopher Finlayson, will represent New Zealand at the 70th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Poland on 27 January, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Mr Finlayson is accompanied by Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hon Annette King, underscoring the importance of the commemoration to all New Zealanders.

“We must never forget the atrocities that took place during the Second World War,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Government Communications Security Bureau Director, Ian Fletcher, is stepping down after three years in the role for family reasons, Minister Responsible for the GCSB, Christopher Finlayson, announced today.

“Mr Fletcher has been instrumental in the significant improvements that have taken place at the GCSB over the past three years, where he has led the implementation of the Kitteridge Review and increased the public openness and accountability of the organisation,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christopher Finlayson GCSB
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Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC has paid tribute to former President of the Court of Appeal, Rt Hon Sir Ivor Richardson, who has died at the age of 84.

"It is hard to think of anyone who has made a more substantive contribution to the law and social policy than Sir Ivor Richardson,” Mr Finlayson said. “His was a career marked by excellence in everything he did.”

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Attorney-General, Christopher Finlayson, today announced the appointment of Christchurch lawyer Anna Tutton as a Coroner. Ms Tutton replaces retiring Christchurch Coroner, Richard McElrea.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Auckland Queen’s Counsel Anne Hinton has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Hinton graduated with an LLB(Hons) from Auckland University in 1975 and became a staff solicitor with Grierson Jackson & Partners in Auckland. 

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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The first revision programme of statutes has been presented to the House of Representatives, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. “This is a banner day for the New Zealand statute books,” said Mr Finlayson. “It is the start of a systematic programme of statute revision which will make the law clearer and more accessible for New Zealanders. There has not been a major revision and consolidation of our legislation since 1908.”

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General
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Auckland Queen’s Counsel Matthew Muir has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Muir graduated with an LLB (Hons) from Auckland University in 1981 and became a staff solicitor with Holmden Horrocks & Co in Auckland.  In 1984 he took leave from Holmden Horrocks for postgraduate studies at the University of Virginia, graduating with an LLM.

Christopher Finlayson Attorney-General