Edward Taihakurei Durie
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward "Eddie" Taihakurei Durie, KNZM
(born 18 January 1940) was the first Māori appointed as a Justice
of the High Court of New Zealand
and is regarded as leading legal expert on the Treaty of Waitangi
.
He graduated with a BA
and an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington
in 1964. He holds honorary doctorates from Victoria University of Wellington
, Massey University
and the University of Waikato
.
Durie was the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court
from 1980–1998 and Chairman of the Waitangi Tribunal
from 1980–2004 and Law Commissioner
. In 1998 he was appointed to the High Court and retired in 2004, at which point he was the longest-serving member of the New Zealand judiciary.
In the 2008 New Years Honours List Durie was appointed a Distinguished Companions of New Zealand Order of Merit
which was later converted to Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit
in 2009.
In 2009, Durie was appointed by the Attorney General
to Chair the Ministerial Taskforce on the Foreshore and Seabed Act
.
Durie has been retrieved for service to his iwi
. He is the younger brother of renowned Māori academic, Professor Sir Mason Durie
.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 18 January 1940) was the first Māori appointed as a Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
of the High Court of New Zealand
High Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
and is regarded as leading legal expert on the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
.
He graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
in 1964. He holds honorary doctorates from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
and the University of Waikato
University of Waikato
The University of Waikato is located in Hamilton and Tauranga, New Zealand, and was established in 1964. It has strengths across a broad range of subject areas, particularly its degrees in Computer Science and in Management...
.
Durie was the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court
Maori Land Court
The Māori Land Court is the specialist court in New Zealand that hears matters relating to Māori land.The Māori Land Court was established in 1865 as the Native Land Court. In 1954, the name was changed to the Māori Land Court...
from 1980–1998 and Chairman of the Waitangi Tribunal
Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975...
from 1980–2004 and Law Commissioner
New Zealand Law Commission
New Zealand's Law Commission was established in 1986 by the Law Commission Act 1985. The Commission is a Crown Entity under the Crown Entities Act 2004....
. In 1998 he was appointed to the High Court and retired in 2004, at which point he was the longest-serving member of the New Zealand judiciary.
In the 2008 New Years Honours List Durie was appointed a Distinguished Companions of New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
which was later converted to Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in 2009.
In 2009, Durie was appointed by the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
to Chair the Ministerial Taskforce on the Foreshore and Seabed Act
New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy
The New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy is a debate in the politics of New Zealand. It concerns the ownership of the country's foreshore and seabed, with many Māori groups claiming that Māori have a rightful claim to title. These claims are based around historical possession and the Treaty...
.
Durie has been retrieved for service to his iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
. He is the younger brother of renowned Māori academic, Professor Sir Mason Durie
Mason Durie
-Family:Durie is the older brother of former High Court Judge and Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court The Honourable Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie KNZM.-External links:* *...
.