New Rotorua district court judge welcomed (+video)

Rotorua's new district court judge, Queen's Counsel Paul Mabey, has been welcomed to the bench with a pohiri in the courtroom where he has acted as defence counsel in numerous high-profile trials.

Judge Mabey's appointment was announced last April and he has been sitting in Tauranga since.

He is to replace Judge Chris McGuire who presided in Rotorua for 19 years before moving to the Manukau District Court this week.

At today's pohiri senior Rotorua judge Phillip Cooper, wearing a traditional korowai (cloak) said many tears had been shed when Judge McGuire was handed over to Ngati Whatua but Judge Mabey's arrival in Rotorua to join the people of Te Arawa was greeted with joy.

Both Judge Cooper and Judge Peter Rollo of Tauranga, who escorted Judge Mabey, spoke in te reo Maori and Rotorua family court judge Alayne Wills called the new judge into the courtroom with a moving karenga.

As the ceremony progressed she led him by the hand from those sitting with the Tauranga contingent to join fellow Rotorua judges Cooper, Maree McKenzie, Tony Snell, Coroner Wallace Bain and court manager Dan O'Brien.

In reply, Judge Mabey said the Rotorua court was not a strange place to him, he knew the crown and defence counsel present well.

"I am now looking forward to seeing you from the other side," he joked.

Court staff performed waiata and hongi were exchanged.

After the ceremony, Tauranga lawyer Bill Nabney said Rotorua's gain was Tauranga's loss.

He said the pohiri was an "impressive and moving" welcome.

"Rotorua's court staff have a well honed machine when it comes to this sort of welcome and they put a lot of energy and passion into welcoming Judge Mabey to Rotorua."

Rotorua Crown Solicitor Amanda Gordon said Judge Mabey was clearly moved by the passionate welcome.

"Judge Mabey is a highly experienced criminal judge. From what I have heard from the Tauranga lawyers he hit the ground running since his appointment to the bench.

"I expect it will be just as smooth transition from the Tauranga to Rotorua bench, and we are all looking forward to working more closely with him," she said.

Rotorua lawyer Bill Lawson said Judge Mabey was well known to him and his colleagues.

"Paul Mabey was a very experienced criminal barrister, his knowledge of the law is frankly second to none, and he is a well liked and highly respected judicial officer."