New Northland coroner Tania Tetitaha to raise her game

Northland Coroner Tania Tetitaha with husband Judge Greg Davis (far left), Judge John McDonald and coroner Alison Mills (far right) at the swearing-in ceremony. Photo / Tania Whyte

New Northland coroner Tania Tetitaha has challenged fellow judges to up their game if they are to deliver better outcomes, as expected by the public.

The former lawyer was sworn in on Friday as the region's new Coroner to replace Brandt Shortland, who earlier this year was appointed as a district court judge with a jury warrant to sit in Kaikohe.

Executive judge in Northland, Judge John McDonald, administered the oaths at Tetitaha's as Chief Coroner Deborah Marshall could not attend due to level 3 restrictions.

"My view is that as judges, we have to do better. Anyone who has a judicial warrant has to do better. Our people expect more, they want more and in that sense if we want to deliver that, we have to up our game,'' Tetitaha said.

"I will hopefully up my game, hopefully people who come to my court will feel heard, hopefully those who come to the Coroner's office generally will have a chance to have their say".

Of Ngāpuhi, Ngati Raukawa, Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Hine and Patukeha descent, she served as a member of the Employment Relations Authority for seven years before returning to private practice in Whangārei.

Tetitaha described her new appointment, which had meant she had to leave private practice, as "bittersweet" and thought she was getting a bit better having had the opportunity to spent time at the authority.

"That was a great experience for me. It was an eye-opener. In my view, every lawyer should spend some time sitting on the bench so they know what a lot of my colleagues have to go through.

"You lose perspective at times if you haven't had a chance to actually see the other side of the coin."

Coroner Tania Tetitaha with a gavel presented to her at the swearing-in ceremony. Photo / Tania Whyte

She praised the district court bench in Northland.

"In Te Tai Tokerau, we have a full Māori bench. Three amazing wahine toa who are invested in our area. From a person who has appeared in front of them, it has made a huge difference to those who appear in front of them.

"There's a real change that's happening in our bench. We also have two Māori who are now sitting on the bench in the district court. I can see change that's coming," she said.

As is usually the case at swearing-in ceremonies, there was no shortage of humour.

Tetitaha said there must be some Ngāti Hine in Judge McDonald's whakapapa somewhere, now that he'd sworn in two descendents of the same iwi.

"Beware of any offers from Ngāti Hine, especially if they involve women or land. Just letting you know in advance."

The new coroner is married to Whangārei-based district court judge Greg Davis.