Supreme Court of New Zealand

The Supreme Court of New Zealand will be the highest court of appeal in New Zealand from mid-2004, replacing the right of appeal to the Privy Council. It was created with the passing of the Supreme Court Act 2003, on 15 October 2003.

The Supreme Court will sit in Wellington. The inaugural judges are:

• Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias
• Justice Thomas Gault
• Sir Kenneth Keith
• Justice Peter Blanchard
• Justice Andrew Tipping

The bench (with the exception of the Chief Justice who had automatic appointment) were selected on seniority and merit. The four other judges were the most senior judges of the Court of Appeal.