Owen Paulsen | |
|---|---|
| Justice of the High Court | |
| Assumed office 15 November 2025 | |
| Associate Judge of the High Court of New Zealand | |
| In office 2 August 2019 –14 November 2025 | |
| Chief Justice of Tonga | |
| In office January 2015 –July 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Dishington Scott |
| Succeeded by | Michael Hargreaves Whitten |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury LLB University of Auckland LLM (Comm) (Hons) |
Owen Paulsen is a New Zealand jurist,who served as Chief Justice of Tonga from 2015 to 2019. Since August 2019 he has been an associate judge of the High Court of New Zealand,and a Judge of the High Court of New Zealand since 2025.
Paulsen was educated at Shirley Boys' High School and the University of Canterbury,and later at the University of Auckland. [1] He worked as a solicitor and later a partner for Harman &Co,and then as a member of the Employment Tribunal. [2] He later worked for the law firm Cavell Leitch.
In January 2015 he was appointed Chief Justice of Tonga,replacing Michael Dishington Scott. [3] As Chief Justice he quashed the sacking of Tonga Broadcasting Commission directors 'Eseta Fusitu'a and Tunakaimanu Fielakepa, [4] and oversaw the corruption trial of government minister ʻEtuate Lavulavu. [5] He also oversaw the TONGASAT case,which found that US$50 million paid to Tongasat by the government of China was invalid and unlawful. [6]
In July 2019 he resigned as Chief Justice after being appointed as an associate justice of the High Court of New Zealand. [7] [8] He was replaced as Chief Justice by Michael Hargreaves Whitten. [9] [10]
On 10 October 2025 it was announced Paulsen would be appointed as a Justice of the High Court of New Zealand based in Christchurch. [11]