Hon David Goddard KC

Chairperson Grants and Scholarships Committee

Judge Heemi Maana Taumaunu

Nominee of the Chief Justice

“Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngāti Pōrou te iwi
Ko Te Aitanga-ā-Hauiti te iwi taketake
Ko Ngāti Konohi te hapu
Ko Whāngārā-mai-tawhiti te marae
Ko Paikea, ko Pōrourangi me Tahu-Pōtiki, ngā mātua tīpuna”

Born in Gisborne, New Zealand, with tribal affiliations to Ngāti Pōrou (East Coast, North Island), and Ngāi Tahu (South Island), Judge Taumaunu completed primary and secondary school in Christchurch before joining the New Zealand Army as a Webb Class Regular Force Cadet in 1984. He then served as a Regular Force soldier and non-commissioned officer in the Royal New Zealand Signals Corp for four years.

Graduating from Victoria University of Wellington in 1993 with a Bachelor of Laws, Judge Taumaunu practised as a barrister and solicitor in the Gisborne region for 10 years prior to his appointment as a District Court Judge in January 2004. Judge Taumaunu is warranted to preside over jury, general and youth courts, is a resident Judge of the Auckland District Court, and regularly presides over Youth Courts in the Northern Region. Judge Taumaunu is the current Chair of the District Court Kaupapa Māori Advisory Group.

In May 2008, Judge Taumaunu presided over the first sitting of a Rangatahi Court, at Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae in Gisborne. In 2016, Judge Taumaunu was awarded the Veillard-Cybulski Foundation Award for his pioneering work in leading the development of the Rangatahi Courts of New Zealand.

In June 2012, Judge Taumaunu was sworn in as a Judge of the Court Martial of New Zealand. In February 2018, Judge Taumaunu was appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General and Deputy Chief Judge of the Court Martial of New Zealand. In October 2019, Judge Taumaunu was appointed Chief Judge of the District Court of New Zealand.

Geoff McLay

Dean, Faculty of Law, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Sir Terence Arnold

Sir Terence researched and taught at law schools in Canada and New Zealand for over a decade, principally in the area of criminal justice, before joining Chapman Tripp as a litigation solicitor in 1982. He became a partner in 1985, undertaking a variety of commercial litigation but developing a particular interest in competition and regulatory issues. In 1994 he joined the bar and in 1997 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel. He became Solicitor-General in 2000 and was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2006, where he served until 2013, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court.

Sir Terence retired as a permanent member of the Supreme Court in April 2017 but continues to sit when required as an Acting Judge. He has been active in teaching, writing, and presenting seminars in a variety of areas and was closely involved in the development of skills-based training for litigators. He has a continuing interest in law reform.

“Meaningful change to the law and the justice system requires top-quality research and analysis. The extraordinary generosity of the late Judge Borrin provides an opportunity to support the kind of research and thinking that is capable of producing meaningful change. It’s fascinating – and a little daunting – to be involved in giving life to Judge Borrin’s vision.”

Ataga’i Esera

GSC Advisor – Family Law

Ataga’i Esera (Samoan/NZ European), over the past decade, has predominantly practised in the area of Family Law in Porirua, apart from a brief stint in South Auckland. She is currently a Director at Family Law Specialists in Porirua and the Family Law Section representative for Porirua. A large part of her practice is acting as Lawyer for Children. Ataga’i is currently Vice President (Wellington) of the New Zealand Law Society and is looking forward to being an Advisor for the Borrin Foundation GSC.

“I truly consider it a real privilege to meet with children and young people, and to advocate for them in what can be particularly difficult circumstances.”