Chief Judge takes joint leadership role

  • Georgina te Heuheu
Courts

Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu today congratulated Chief Judge Wilson Whare Isaac of the Māori Land Court on his appointment as Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal.

This follows the Chief Judge's recent appointment as Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court and continues the tradition whereby both roles are held by the same person.

"Chief Judge Isaac has already served the people of New Zealand well and I am confident he will go on to perform this joint leadership role with distinction," she said. 

In his role as a Judge of the Māori Land Court he has already served as a panel member on high profile Waitangi Tribunal district inquiries and shown he can maintain the confidence of key groups through this process.

Mrs te Heuheu said Chief Judge Isaac's knowledge of communities together with demonstrated leadership, judicial and administrative experience has equipped him well for this additional appointment.

"Like the Māori Land Court, the Waitangi Tribunal is no ordinary Court.

"In measuring the actions of the Crown against the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Tribunal plays an important role in reconciling the interests of Māori and all other New Zealanders," Mrs te Heuheu said.

"I am confident that Chief Judge Isaac has the background, the experience and the necessary good judgement to deal with matters before the Tribunal of significant importance both to Māori and the nation.

"I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well."

BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Chief Judge Isaac affiliates to Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu and Tūhoe. 

Chief Judge Isaac was educated at St Pauls Collegiate, Hamilton, and then Otago University, graduating with an LlB BA in 1977.

Prior to his appointment as a Māori Land Court Judge, Chief Judge Isaac spent 17 years as a solicitor and partner at Burnard Bull & Co, Gisborne, where he developed an extensive practice in Māori land law and family law.

Chief Judge Isaac had 10 years' experience as Deputy Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court and 15 years' experience in total as a Māori Land Court Judge presiding in the Tairāwhiti and Takitimu Māori Land Court districts. During this time, Chief Judge Isaac presided over the Mohaka ki Ahuriri and Northern South Island hearings for the Waitangi Tribunal, and is currently presiding over the National Park inquiry.