18 February 2025

Retiring Justices of the Peace recognised for service to community

Five Hamilton-based long standing Justices of the Peace, who have served and provided committed “service to fellow New Zealanders” and have retired, were today acknowledged by the Royal Federation of NZ Justices’ Associations.

These Justices who opted to relinquish the office after serving for several decades put together, were today presented with ‘Recognition of Retirement’ service certificates for their diligence and service to the community at a brief function held here today.

Retd JPs
Five of the retiring Justices of Peace who were recognised for their services (Photo/supplied)

On behalf of the Royal Federation of NZ Justices’ Associations, the certificates to retiree JPs were presented by Bala Bhaskar Tikkisetty, East Hamilton Branch Co-Chair, Waikato JPs Association. A large number of fellow Justices and office bearers of the local JPs association were present on the occasion.

The Justices who received these certificates today are:  Clifton Charles O’Leary, Robert Neil Thomas, Raymond James Wakefield, William Mitchell Parsonson and Donald Leslie Lindale.

Another Justice of the Peace, Heather Karen de Groen was presented a certificate in recognition of her 30 years and ongoing service to the community.

Justice of Peace’s appointment is for life, or until resignation or retirement or removal from office by the Governor General.

A JP who has completed at least 10 years of active service and wishes to relinquish the office, they attain the status of JP (retired).

Justices of the Peace who are trained, trusted members of our community, provide their services free of charge.

The first appointment of a Justice in New Zealand was in 1814 when Governor Macquarie of New South Wales appointed the missionary Thomas Kendall as a Justice “in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand and throughout the islands of New Zealand and those immediately contiguous thereto”.

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In 1840, after New Zealand had become a British colony, the first regular appointments of Justices were made.

The functions of modern Justices in New Zealand are now more limited than in former times. Notwithstanding their more restricted powers, it remains true that JPs are citizens given special duties and powers.

Justice’s powers are in two categories: ministerial and judicial and all Justices of the Peace can help you with ministerial matters, and some specially-trained judicial JPs sit in the District Court.

If you require the services of a JP, you can search the NZ JP database using place, postcode, name or language skill.

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