New principal judge named in Family Court

Auckland Family Court judge Peter Francis Boshier will replace Judge Patrick Mahony as the principal Family Court judge.

Attorney-General Margaret Wilson said Judge Boshier would take over on March 13 from Judge Mahony, who is retiring.

Judge Boshier graduated from Victoria University, Wellington, in 1975. He was appointed to the Auckland District Court bench after 13 years of litigation experience.

Ms Wilson said Judge Boshier had considerable experience in dealing with child offenders and had helped set up programmes to deal with youths who have a high risk of offending.

In 2002, Judge Boshier took up a secondment with the Pacific Judicial Education Programme in Fiji. He returned to sitting duties in Auckland this year.

A spokeswoman for Ms Wilson said Judge Mahony had reached retirement age.

Judge Mahony hit the headlines last year when he took issue with Nelson MP Nick Smith's public comments about a case before the Family Court.

Mr Smith has since been charged with contempt of court and will appear in the High Court at Wellington on February 23.

A number of politicians have criticised the closed nature of the Family Court. But its defenders say it is necessary because of the confidential nature of matters before the court.

- NZPA