Hon Christopher Finlayson
Attorney-General

25 August 2011

Acting Principal Environment Court Judge appointed

Judge Laurie Newhook has been appointed Acting Principal Environment Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Judge Newhook was appointed to the Environment Court Bench in 2001. He graduated from Auckland University with an LLB (Hons) in 1972 and was admitted to the Bar the same year. From 1976 he was a partner of Brookfields and antecedent firms, practicing in resource management, local government and general litigation with an emphasis on land, maritime matters, construction law and mediation/arbitration work.

Judge Newhook acted for councils, landowners, developers, iwi, community groups and environmental groups in the areas of planning, resource management and local government. He has been an Associate of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand.

Judge Newhook replaces Judge Craig Thompson, who has resigned but will continue as an Environment Court Judge.

ENDS

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