Judge says Supreme Court appointment 'nice finale'

The call-up from Attorney-General Margaret Wilson to the country's highest bench did not seem to inspire quite the same buzz as a call from All Black coach John Mitchell to the more popular sideline version.

But Justice Andrew Tipping, 61, said he was excited about his new role, which was an honour and a nice finale to a long legal career.

Justice Tipping is one of five senior judges appointed to New Zealand's new Supreme Court, which comes into being on January 1.

Admiring the view from his Wellington home and quietly contemplating the job, Justice Tipping was not daunted, but was mindful of the responsibility the role carried with it.

Although he expected the new job to be a challenge, it would be largely an extension of his role on the Appeal Court, which is already the final court for 98 per cent of New Zealand cases.

"We now have the final responsibility for our own legal destiny. That tends to sharpen the mind, not that mine, I hope, was too blunt before."

He predicted more New Zealand cases would go to the new Supreme Court than had previously gone to the Privy Council in London, because of greater accessibility and a wider brief.

But the new court would still have a lot more time than the Appeal Court to examine cases in depth and concentrate on the important issues, he said.

Justice Tipping did not believe the Privy Council's exit would compromise impartiality.

"The only advantage of the Privy Council in terms of independence was the perception rather than the reality. It's easier to see someone as being independent if they are 12,000 miles away."

He said the court would draw on international precedents from Australia, Canada and England.

Moving up

Five new judges have been appointed to the Court of Appeal to replace the judges elevated to the new Supreme Court. They are Justice Noel Anderson, who will be president, and Justices Grant Hammond, William Young, Robert Chambers and Mark O'Regan.

- NZPA