Name Eddie Durie Role Justice | Spouse Donna Hall | |
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Born 18 January 1940 (age 84) ( 1940-01-18 ) Education Victoria University of Wellington | ||
Sir eddie durie has called for a review of the waitangi tribunal processes tvnz
Sir Edward "Eddie" Taihakurei Durie, KNZM (born 18 January 1940) is Chair of the Māori Council and was the first Māori appointed as a Judge of a New Zealand Court. He is regarded as leading legal expert on the Treaty of Waitangi. He is of Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata and Ngāti Raukawa descent; John Mason Durie is his grandfather.
Contents
- Sir eddie durie has called for a review of the waitangi tribunal processes tvnz
- Early life and education
- Career
- Personal life
- References
Early life and education
He graduated with a BA and an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1964. He holds honorary doctorates from Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University and the University of Waikato.
Career
Durie was appointed a Judge in 1974 and then was the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court from 1980–1998, Chairman of the Waitangi Tribunal from 1980–2004, and a Law Commissioner. In 1998 he was appointed to the High Court. He retired from the High Court in 2004, at which point he was the longest-serving member of the New Zealand judiciary.
In the 2008 New Years Honours list Durie was appointed a Distinguished Companions of New Zealand Order of Merit which was later converted to Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.
In 2009, Durie was appointed by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson to chair the Ministerial taskforce on the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
In 2012, Durie was elected to the Maori Council and elected Co-Chair, a role he held until being appointed the sole Chair of the national body in April 2016.
Personal life
Durie is married to prominent Maori lawyer Donna Hall.
He is the younger brother of renowned Māori academic, Professor Sir Mason Durie.
On 13 April 2002, Durie's 8 month old adopted daughter Kahurautete ('Kahu') was kidnapped at gunpoint in Lower Hutt and held for $3 million ransom. Kahu was found by police 8 days later, 660 kilometres (410 mi) away in Taumarunui. Kidnapper Terence Ward Traynor was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and released after serving 7 years. The kidnapping was the subject of the 2010 film Stolen: The Baby Kahu Story in which Eddie Durie was played by George Henare.