KEY POINTS:
The retirement age of judges was raised to 70 today after Parliament passed the Judicial Retirement Age Bill.
It has been compulsory for all judges to retire at 68 since 1980 and the law change aims to retain experienced judges longer as life expectancy and quality of life improves.
"Raising the retirement age of the judiciary to 70 years brings New Zealand into line with comparative overseas jurisdictions, in particularly the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland,"
Courts Minister Rick Barker told MPs.
He said a retirement age was still needed to protect judicial independence.
"The independence of the judiciary is a fundamental concept underlying New Zealand's democratic system, a compulsory retirement age is key to protecting that independence," he said.
A compulsory retirement age also meant monitoring of individual judges would not be needed.
National MP Chris Finlayson said there was no justification to keep "such a low retirement age" and the new limit was appropriate for now.
NZ First MP Ron Mark and Maori Party MP Hone Harawira questioned the need for any mandatory cut off point.
- NZPA
