Tauranga senior barrister to be sworn in as judge

Tauranga barrister and solicitor Rob Ronayne has been appointed a District Court judge.

Tauranga born Mr Ronayne, 58, has been a partner in law firm Ronayne, Hollister-Jones Lellman since April 1998, and will take up his judicial role in Auckland District Court on March 25.

He will be sworn in at a ceremony in Tauranga on March 22.

His appointment as a District Court judge with a jury warrant was announced by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson late Thursday afternoon.

Mr Ronayne, who did most of his schooling in Cambridge, studied law at Canterbury University and was admitted to the bar in 1978.

He was the senior litigation partner in Rotorua firm East Brewster from 1979-98.

Mr Ronayne, who specialised in criminal prosecutions, regulatory advice, civil litigation, disciplinary proceeding, mediation and arbitration, has clocked up 34 years' experience in all areas of litigation. He is also a trained mediator.

He said becoming a judge was not something he had always aspired to be, but he did not think twice about accepting the judicial appointment when asked.

"I feel very proud to accept this appointment and feel very privileged to be able to serve in this way. I'm very excited about this new challenge and of the new direction," he said.

Mr Ronayne said he would miss the Western Bay.