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On Cabinet’s advice, the Governor-General has extended the reporting date for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River mine tragedy to 28 September 2012, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Commissioners were originally due to report back by 31 March 2012, but approached Government requesting an extension late last year.

Auckland litigator Murray Ashley Gilbert SC has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Gilbert graduated with an LLB from Auckland University in 1977. In 1976 he joined Kensington Swan in Auckland as a law clerk, later becoming a partner in 1985. In 1996 he became a partner with Chapman Tripp. He left to form the partnership Gilbert Walker with Campbell Walker in 2004.

In 2008 Justice Gilbert was appointed Senior Counsel.

Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today welcomed the return of 20 Toi moko (mummified Māori Heads), formerly held in French institutions, to New Zealand.

“This is a wonderful day for the people of New Zealand and for those Maori whose ancestors’ remains have been returned home,” Mr Finlayson said. “Toi moko have a great deal of cultural and spiritual value to New Zealand and especially to Maori.”

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson, on behalf of the Government today congratulated Sir Peter Jackson on the Golden Globe awarded for the film ‘Tintin’, which Sir Peter produced.

The Honourable Justice Robert Chambers has been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Chambers graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1975, and in 1978 gained a doctorate from the University of Oxford. He commenced practice as a barrister sole in 1981 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 1999 and a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 2004.

The Honourable Justice Douglas White has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice White, a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington, joined Young Bennett & Co after a stint working for the Law Commission in London. He later became a partner of that firm and then Young Swan Morison McKay (now Kensington Swan). He commenced practice as a barrister in 1986 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1988. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court, based in Auckland, in 2009.