Graham Panckhurst

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The Honourable
Sir Graham Panckhurst
KNZM KC
Graham Panckhurst (cropped).jpg
Panckhurst in 2015
Judge of the High Court of New Zealand
In office
1996–2014
Personal details
Born
Graham Ken Panckhurst

1945 (age 79–80)
Reefton, New Zealand
SpouseJill Panckhurst

Sir Graham Ken Panckhurst KNZM KC (born 1945) is a retired New Zealand High Court judge. He chaired the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster.

Contents

Early life and family

Born in Reefton in 1945, [1] [2] Panckhurst was educated at Reefton District High School [3] and Christchurch Boys' High School. [4] He went on to study law at the University of Canterbury, and was elected to the university's Student Representative Council. [5] He married his wife, Jill, a registered nurse, in the late 1960s. [6] [7]

Panckhurst was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Christchurch on 20 February 1970. [8] In 1985, he was appointed as Crown Solicitor for Canterbury and the West Coast. Panckhurst took silk in 1994 and was appointed to the High Court bench in 1996. [9] He retired from the High Court bench in 2014.

Notable work

In 2009, Panckhurst heard the retrial of David Bain. The trial was substantial with the prosecution calling 150 witnesses. [10] In 2010, Panckhurst was appointed to head the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster. [11]

Honours

In November 2014, Panckhurst was granted the retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of his service as a High Court judge. [12] In the 2015 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the judiciary. [13] In 2025, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law by the University of Canterbury. [14] [15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Reefton boy to head Pike River inquiry". NBR. 29 November 2010.
  2. ↑ George, Garth (2 December 2010). "A tragedy that made us think of others". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Reefton District High School 1st XV, 1962". West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Boys' High School prize giving". The Press . Vol. 103, no. 30621. 11 December 1964. p. 14. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Students elected new representative group". The Press . Vol. 108, no. 31704. 13 June 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, Charlie (31 December 2014). "Knighthood misplaced, says retired judge". The Press . Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Christchurch Central electoral district: supplementary roll no. 1. Christchurch: Office of Registrar of Electors. 1969. p. 332.
  8. ↑ "35 lawyers admitted". The Press . Vol. 109, no. 32228. 21 February 1970. p. 10. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "The Judges of the High Court". Courts of New Zealand. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  10. ↑ Edward Gay (6 March 2009). "David Bain trial judge tells jury: Put 'baggage' aside". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  11. ↑ John Hartevelt; Amy Glass; Kirsty Johnston; Andrea Vance; Michael Fox (29 November 2010). "Pike River disaster inquiry announced". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Retention of the title 'The Honourable'". New Zealand Gazette. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "New Year honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  14. ↑ Macintosh, Cate (9 April 2025). "Renowned Kiwi film-maker and judge among nearly 3000 honoured by Canterbury University". The Press . Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  15. ↑ "UC honours contribution of former High Court Judge". University of Canterbury . 31 March 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.


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