Displaying 73 - 96 of 241 results.

Auckland barrister David Kirkpatrick has been appointed an Environment Court Judge and District Court Judge to sit in Auckland, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. 

Mr Kirkpatrick has been a barrister sole since July 2004. He specialises in administrative and public law generally, and resource management law in particular. He appears regularly before consent authorities, the Environment Court, and High Court. He has also appeared before the Court of Appeal, the Privy Council, and the Supreme Court.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

The Government today announced changes to the structure and level of support for overseas and New Zealand film and television productions to ensure the further development of New Zealand’s screen industry.

The new changes are designed to encourage the growth of mid-sized New Zealand-based productions that can compete successfully on the world stage; while also increasing the competitiveness of our incentives for international productions in the short to medium term.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Steven Joyce
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Economic Development

The Government today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lightstorm Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation that will see the next three Avatar films made in New Zealand.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister John Key, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson at Wellington alongside Avatar Director James Cameron, Producer Jon Landau, and Twentieth Century Fox Film co-President of Worldwide Theatrical Marketing and Distribution Paul Hanneman.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Steven Joyce
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Economic Development

The Crown has signed a deed of settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty claims with Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngā Pōtiki at Whareroa Marae near Tauranga, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Crown was represented at the signing by Mr Finlayson. The signing was witnessed by local Member of Parliament Simon Bridges.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

French Associate Minister for Defence, in charge of Veterans’ Affairs, Monsieur Kader Arif and New Zealand Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson have signed a letter of intent regarding centenary commemorations of the First World War at the Auckland War Memorial Museum today.

The Ministers met in Auckland and reaffirmed the deep friendship between the two nations stemming from shared experiences on the battlefields of the First World War.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

From 6 January 2014, the New Zealand Legislation website (legislation.govt.nz) will become a source of official legislation, making New Zealand one of the few comparable jurisdictions to provide free official up-to-date online legislation to the public, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson says.

The change is a result of the Legislation Act 2012, which up-dates and modernises the publication of legislation.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Deputy Solicitor-General (Criminal Group) Cameron Mander has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Cameron Mander graduated with an LLB from Victoria University in 1985 and was initially employed at Parliamentary Services, in the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, before joining Wellington firm Luke Cunningham and Clere as a staff solicitor the following year.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Christchurch lawyer Rachel Dunningham has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Rachel Dunningham graduated with an LLB (Hons) 1st Class from the University of Canterbury in 1996 and became a solicitor at Buddle Findlay in Christchurch, where she was already employed as a law clerk. In 2005 she became a partner of that firm.

Prior to studying law, she was employed in various teaching roles with the education sector from 1982 to 1994.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Wellington lawyer John Hassan has been appointed an Environment Judge and District Court Judge to serve in Christchurch, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

A new history of New Zealand’s involvement in the First World War and its effect on the nation, New Zealand and the First World War 1914-1919 by Damien Fenton, was launched by Prime Minister John Key, Governor-General Lt Gen the Right Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson at Government House in Wellington this evening.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain today announced 30 projects commemorating the centenary of the First World War have been granted $2.7 million in funding by the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

“World War One had a considerable impact on New Zealand’s character, identity and sense of place in the world. The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board recognises the importance of this centenary event to our nation and has set aside over $17 million to fund community initiatives and projects,” Minister Tremain said.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Internal Affairs
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Guidelines on the appointment of retired acting Judges have been agreed with the Chief District Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The guidelines set out the principles governing the appointment of retired acting Judges, and outline the circumstances where the appointment of an acting Judge may be necessary.

Retired Judges may be appointed as acting Judges to sit in the District Court for a specified period of time.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Havelock North lawyer John Bergseng has been appointed an acting District Court Judge with general and jury warrants for a period of two years, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The acting Judge will sit in Waitakere. His appointment is to cover for a District Court Judge who has been seconded to the Supreme Court of Vanuatu.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson has encouraged delegates to support the rank-and-file conference remit that the Labour Party’s leadership apologise for passing the Foreshore and Seabed Act while in government under Helen Clark.

“I am glad that almost a decade after passing this shameful piece of legislation, which denied access to the courts to people based on race, the Labour Party is ready to discuss an apology,” Mr Finlayson said.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

The House of Representatives sat through extended hours this morning to pass the Te Urewera-Tūhoe  Bill, Ngāti Haua Claims Settlement Bill and Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Claims Settlement Bill through their first readings. The bills have been referred to the Māori Affairs select committee.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

“Protecting cultural heritage during armed conflict helps create the conditions for peace,” Minister for the Arts Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said in Paris today.

Mr Finlayson was at the headquarters of the UN’s Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO, where he formally deposited New Zealand’s treaty documents to join the Protocols to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Culture in the event of Armed Conflict.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

New Zealand has another strong presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair, which opened today in Germany, building on the success of its Guest of Honour appearance last year, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said.

The book fair, the world’s largest media and content fair, had unprecedented success in 2012 with New Zealand’s Guest of Honour programme.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Blenheim lawyer Murray Hunt has been appointed a Family Court Judge to serve in Whangarei, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr Hunt was admitted to the bar in 1984 and is of Ngai Tahu and Pakeha descent. He has been a partner at Blenheim firm Hardy Jones Clark since 2007 and was a partner of Gascoigne Wicks (also Blenheim) from 1986 to 2007.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Auckland lawyer Denese Henare ONZM has been appointed as a District Court Judge to serve in Auckland, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Judge Henare was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1974. In 1975 she was a Commissioner on the Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion.

From 1977 to 1986 she completed a Diploma in Air and Space Law from University College, London and worked as a company solicitor for Air New Zealand, during which time she was counsel involved in the Mt Erebus inquiry.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Ill-informed commentary about the numbers of District Court judges shows that the Labour Party at best does not understand the workings of the country’s judicial system and at worst has a disregard for judicial independence, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson said today.

“At the end of 2008, there were 175 judges sitting in the District Court. There are now 174. During that time, case volumes have continued to fall, and we currently have the lowest recorded crime rate in 33 years.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Whangarei lawyer Christina Cook has been appointed a Family Court Judge to serve in Invercargill, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Ms Cook was admitted in 1990. Her early career began in Whangarei as junior counsel with local law firm Connell Rishworth Gerard, and saw her gain experience in general litigation including as a junior on a number of trials.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Attorney-General

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman are holding talks this week with visiting UK Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr Andrew Murrison.

“As the UK’s Special Representative for the Centenary Commemoration of the First World War, Dr Murrison’s visit to New Zealand is a good opportunity to discuss the commemoration programme,” says Mr Finlayson.

  • Jonathan Coleman
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Defence
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Work towards the National War Memorial Park is progressing well and is on target to be open in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 2015, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee and Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson said today on a visit to the construction site in Wellington’s Buckle Street.

The underpass and National War Memorial Park is the Government’s cornerstone project to acknowledge the Centenary of the First World War (the WW100 programme). 

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Gerry Brownlee
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Transport

Lawyer Paul Majurey and arts patron Dayle Mace have been appointed to the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and current members Philip Carter and Wendy Lai have been reappointed, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The appointments of Paul Majurey and Dayle Mace and the reappointments of Philip Carter and Wendy Lai help ensure the Te Papa board has an appropriate and complementary mix of experience and skills,” Mr Finlayson said.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage