Gisborne born-and-bred lawyer, judge Tony Adeane dies at 72

Judge Tony Adeane was a colourful character who had a no-nonsense attitude to burglars and taggers, but a “softer side” for cases involving disqualification from driving and confiscated vehicles. NZME picture by Duncan Brown

Colourful District Court judge Tony Adeane has died in Napier after a period of illness.

The 72-year-old was born and bred in Gisborne and became a partner at Chrisp and Chrisp before being appointed to the bench in 1993.

Judge Adeane was based in Hawke’s Bay but also regularly presided in district courts in Gisborne, Wairoa and Ruatōria until Gisborne got its own resident judges. 

He presided in more than 650 jury trials and numerous other hearings before retiring in 2020.

Adam Simperingham, a partner at Woodward Chrisp — the successor law firm to Chrisp and Chrisp —  said Judge Adeane “at his prime as counsel was the doyen of the civil and criminal bars in Gisborne”.

“One of his best-known cases was the defence of a Gisborne police officer who was on charges involving the kidnap of a Rastafarian following the spate of arsons around Ruatōria in the late 1980s.”

Mr Simperingham said Judge Adeane was pragmatic, firm and fair. 
“His Honour took a no-nonsense attitude to burglars and taggers.”

Judge Adeane made national headlines by jailing some taggers. 

Mr Simperingham said Judge Adeane’s “softer side" was revealed in cases involving disqualification from driving and the confiscation of vehicles.
“Judge Adeane was acutely aware that losing a licence or a car could have a grave impact on defendants’ abilities to work and live in the more remote parts of the East-Coast. 
“On more than one occasion His Honour refused to impose a period of mandatory period of disqualification and reminded those present that ‘the Court of Appeal doesn’t sit at Ruatoria’.”

The judge often commented that disqualification from driving, often as a result of trivial offending, made further offending inevitable while ever-increasing fines for infringement notices resulted in fines that would never be paid.

The judge was renowned for his quick pace when presiding in Gisborne District Court which would heavily reduce the backlog of cases — another issue which he often commented on, or criticised. He would tell the media that such asides were not for publication.

The judge was concerned about the impact of methamphetamine leading to impulsive and violent offending in the community and at home.

It is strongly believed that youth offenders can best be dealt with within the family environment, but Judge Adeane said in an interview that the reality in many cases was that the family unit was non-existent or was itself the source of the offender’s problems.

Judge Adeane was educated at Gisborne Boys’ High School where he was in the same class as Justice Robert Dobson and Chief Ombudsman and former principal Family Court Judge) Peter Boshier.

The future judge studied at Victoria University before joining Chrisp and Chrisp in 1974. He became a partner, alongside Wayne Callaghan and Harry Chrisp — a grandson of founder RJ Chrisp — before becoming a judge.

A strong interest outside of the legal world was cars and motorbikes. He bought his first motorbike as a 15-year-old. 

Judge Adeane was married to Linda for 50 years and the couple had two children and four grandchildren.