Sir Graham Ken Panckhurst KNZM KC (born 1945) is a retired New Zealand High Court judge. He chaired the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster.

Early life and family

Born in Reefton in 1945,[1][2] Panckhurst was educated at Reefton District High School[3] and Christchurch Boys' High School.[4] He went on to study law at the University of Canterbury, and was elected to the university's Student Representative Council.[5] He married his wife, Jill, a registered nurse, in the late 1960s.[6][7]

Panckhurst was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Christchurch on 20 February 1970.[8] In 1985, he was appointed as Crown Solicitor for Canterbury and the West Coast. Panckhurst took silk in 1994 and was appointed to the High Court bench in 1996.[9] He retired from the High Court bench in 2014.

Notable work

In 2009, Panckhurst heard the retrial of David Bain. The trial was substantial with the prosecution calling 150 witnesses.[10] In 2010, Panckhurst was appointed to head the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster.[11]

Honours

In November 2014, Panckhurst was granted the retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of his service as a High Court judge.[12] In the 2015 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the judiciary.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Reefton boy to head Pike River inquiry". NBR. 29 November 2010.
  2. ^ George, Garth (2 December 2010). "A tragedy that made us think of others". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Reefton District High School 1st XV, 1962". West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Boys' High School prize giving". The Press. Vol. 103, no. 30621. 11 December 1964. p. 14. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Students elected new representative group". The Press. Vol. 108, no. 31704. 13 June 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. ^ Mitchell, Charlie (31 December 2014). "Knighthood misplaced, says retired judge". The Press. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  7. ^ Christchurch Central electoral district: supplementary roll no. 1. Christchurch: Office of Registrar of Electors. 1969. p. 332.
  8. ^ "35 lawyers admitted". The Press. Vol. 109, no. 32228. 21 February 1970. p. 10. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  9. ^ "The Judges of the High Court". Courts of New Zealand. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  10. ^ Edward Gay (6 March 2009). "David Bain trial judge tells jury: Put 'baggage' aside". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  11. ^ John Hartevelt; Amy Glass; Kirsty Johnston; Andrea Vance; Michael Fox (29 November 2010). "Pike River disaster inquiry announced". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  12. ^ "Retention of the title 'The Honourable'". New Zealand Gazette. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  13. ^ "New Year honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2018.


Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Panckhurst
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