Eddie Durie
Sir Eddie Durie KNZM | |
---|---|
![]() Durie in 2008 | |
Justice of the High Court | |
In office 1998–2004 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Edward Taihakurei Durie 18 January 1940 |
Spouse(s) | Donna Hall |
Children | 1 |
Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie KNZM (born 18 January 1940) Was the first Māori appointed as a Judge of a New Zealand Court. He is of Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata and Ngāti Raukawa descent; Mason Durie (1889–1971) was his grandfather.[1]
Early life and education[]
He graduated with a BA and an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1964. He holds honorary doctorates from Victoria University of Wellington,[2] Massey University[3] and the University of Waikato.[4]
Career[]
Durie was appointed a Judge in 1974 and then was the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court from 1980–1998, Chairman of the Waitangi Tribunal from 1980–2004, and a Law Commissioner. In 1998 he was appointed to the High Court. He retired from the High Court in 2004, at which point he was the longest-serving member of the New Zealand judiciary.[5][6]
In 2009, Durie was appointed by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson to chair the Ministerial taskforce on the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.[7]
In 2012, Durie was elected to the Maori Council and elected co-chair, a role he held until being appointed the sole chair of the national body in April 2016.[8]
Honours and awards[]
In 1977, Durie was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[9] In the 2008 New Year Honours, Durie was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Maori Land Court, Waitangi Tribunal and High Court of New Zealand.[10] In 2009, following the reinstatement of titular honours by the New Zealand government, he accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit.[11]
Personal life[]
Durie is married to lawyer Donna Hall who operates a law firm, Woodward, from their home in Lower Hutt New Zealand. Donna Hall once stood alongside Donald Trump on a visit to New Zealand and who advocated for the granting of a casino license. [12] He is the younger brother of renowned Māori academic, Professor Sir Mason Durie.
On 13 April 2002, Durie's 8-month-old adopted daughter Kahurautete ('Kahu') was kidnapped at gunpoint in Lower Hutt and held for $3 million ransom.[13] Kahu was found by police eight days later, 660 kilometres (410 mi) away in Taumarunui.[14] The kidnapper was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment and released after serving seven years.[15] The kidnapping was the subject of the 2010 film Stolen: The Baby Kahu Story in which Eddie Durie was played by George Henare.[16]
References[]
- ^ Durie, Mason; Durie, Meihana. "Rangitāne – 20th and 21st centuries: survival and adaptation". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Wellington, Victoria University of (15 December 2020). "Honorary graduates and Hunter fellowships | About us | Victoria University of Wellington". www.wgtn.ac.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ Zealand, Massey University, New. "Te Aute leaders 1st XV celebrated - Massey University". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Honorary Doctors of the University of Waikato - Calendar: University of Waikato". calendar.waikato.ac.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Production Shed – Justice Durie". www.productionshed.tv. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "Complete list of all Judges — Māori Land Court". www.justice.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "New Zealand Law Society". Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
- ^ "Waatea News | Podcasts". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 129. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Special honours list 1 August 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Kidnapper set for freedom as victim turns eight". Stuff. 1 August 2009.
- ^ "NZ judge's baby girl abducted". News 24. 14 April 2002.
- ^ "Baby Kahu Found Safe And Well". Scoop. 21 April 2002.
- ^ "Kidnapper set for freedom as victim turns eight". Stuff. 1 August 2009.
- ^ "Parents of kidnapped baby Kahu angry over TV drama". The New Zealand Herald. 29 July 2010.
External links[]
- High Court of New Zealand judges
- New Zealand academics
- Massey University faculty
- Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
- Living people
- 1940 births
- New Zealand Māori academics
- Victoria University of Wellington alumni
- Rangitāne
- Ngāti Raukawa
- New Zealand Māori judges
- People from Feilding
- Members of the Waitangi Tribunal