Andrew Tipping

Summary

Sir Andrew Patrick Charles Tipping KNZM PC (/ændru tɪpɪŋ/; born 22 August 1942) is a New Zealand jurist who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand from 2004 until his retirement in 2012. He is New Zealand's longest-serving judge, serving on the bench for 25 years.[1] Tipping was also a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.[2] His tenure as a jurist has been widely acclaimed and his contributions to the shaping of New Zealand law are considered to be substantial and permanent.[3]

Andrew Tipping
Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
In office
1 January 2004 – 21 August 2012
Nominated byHelen Clark
Appointed bySilvia Cartwright
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byRobert Chambers
Justice of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand
In office
1 June 1997 – 1 January 2004
Nominated byJim Bolger
Appointed byMichael Hardie Boys
Justice of the High Court of New Zealand
In office
October 1986 – 1 June 1997
Personal details
Born22 August 1942
Oxford, England
SpouseJudith Ann Tipping
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury (BA, LLB, LLM (Hons))
AwardsCanterbury District Law Society’s Gold Medal
Sir Timothy Cleary Memorial Prize
University of Canterbury (Doctor of Laws (Hon. Causa))

Early life edit

Born in Oxford, England, Tipping came to New Zealand at an early age. He was educated at Cheltenham College, England, and then at Christ’s College and the University of Canterbury. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in classics, a Bachelor of Laws degree, and then Master of Laws with first-class honours.[4]

Career edit

He practiced as a common law partner in the Christchurch firm of Wynn Williams & Co. He was President of the Canterbury District Law Society in 1984 and a council member of the New Zealand Law Society from 1982–1984.[5] In 1986, he was appointed to the High Court.[6] He was promoted to the Court of Appeal on 1 June 1997,[7] and appointed to the Privy Council a year later.[8] In the Court of Appeal he was a member of the court that said the Maori Land Court had jurisdiction to decide the status of the foreshore and seabed in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General.[9]

From 2004 the Privy Council was replaced as New Zealand’s highest appellate court by a Supreme Court of New Zealand, with the passage of the Supreme Court Act 2003. Attorney General Margaret Wilson was tasked with appointing the entire bench simultaneously, She announced that the appointments would be based on merit and seniority. This meant on 1 January 2004, Tipping became one of the initial members of the new Supreme Court of New Zealand as the most senior Justices on the Court of Appeal were appointed to the new Court.[10][11]

Tipping retired from the Supreme Court on 17 August 2012.[12] On 20 September 2012 Tipping was appointed an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court.[13] He retired as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court in August 2017 upon reaching the statutory retirement age.[14]

In the 2006 New Year Honours, Tipping was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a judge of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of New Zealand.[15] In the 2009 Special Honours he accepted re-designation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit following the re-introduction of titular honours by the New Zealand government.[16][17]

References edit

  1. ^ "LawTalk Issue 802 by New Zealand Law Society - Issuu". issuu.com. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Judiciary's 'strategist' bows out". Stuff. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Andrew Tipping". The University of Canterbury. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Former Supreme Court Judges". Courts of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tipping". Kiwisfirst. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  6. ^ "The Supremes – who's who on NZ'S highest court". The New Zealand Herald. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Judicature Act Appointments". New Zealand Government Gazette. 27 February 1997. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. ^ "CSV list of Orders 1994 to 2009". 14 June 2009.
  9. ^ "Judiciary's 'strategist' bows out". Stuff. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Appointment of Judges of the Supreme Court". New Zealand Government Gazette. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Judge says Supreme Court appointment 'nice finale'". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Judiciary's 'strategist' bows out". stuff.co.nz. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Appointment of Acting Judge of the Supreme Court" (4 October 2012) 122 New Zealand Gazette 3484.
  14. ^ s.116 Senior Courts Act 2016
  15. ^ "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  16. ^ Special Honours List (12 August 2009) 118 New Zealand Gazette 2691
  17. ^ Gibson, Nevil (1 August 2009). "Arise Sir... or Dame... for 70 on honours list". National Business Review. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.