Eddie Durie

Sir Edward 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; Mason Durie (1889–1971) was his grandfather.[1]

The Honourable

Sir Eddie Durie

KNZM
Durie in 2008
Justice of the High Court
In office
1998–2004
Personal details
Born
Edward Taihakurei Durie

(1940-01-18) 18 January 1940
Spouse(s)Donna Hall
Children1

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.[2][3]

In 2009, Durie was appointed by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson to chair the Ministerial taskforce on the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.[4]

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.[5]

Honours and awards

In 1977, Durie was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, and in 1990 he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[6] In the 2008 New Year Honours, Durie was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Maori Land Court, Waitangi Tribunal and High Court of New Zealand.[7] In 2009, following the reinstatement of titular honours by the New Zealand government, he accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit.[8]

Personal life

Durie is married to prominent Maori lawyer Donna Hall.[9] 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.[10] Kahu was found by police eight days later, 660 kilometres (410 mi) away in Taumarunui.[11] The kidnapper was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment and released after serving seven years.[12] The kidnapping was the subject of the 2010 film Stolen: The Baby Kahu Story in which Eddie Durie was played by George Henare.[13]

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References
  1. Durie, Mason; Durie, Meihana. "Rangitāne – 20th and 21st centuries: survival and adaptation". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  2. "Production Shed – Justice Durie". www.productionshed.tv. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  3. "Complete list of all Judges — Māori Land Court". www.justice.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  4. "New Zealand Law Society". Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  5. "Waatea News | Podcasts". Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  6. Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 129. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  7. "New Year honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  8. "Special honours list 1 August 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  9. "Kidnapper set for freedom as victim turns eight". Stuff. 1 August 2009.
  10. "NZ judge's baby girl abducted". News 24. 14 April 2002.
  11. "Baby Kahu Found Safe And Well". Scoop. 21 April 2002.
  12. "Kidnapper set for freedom as victim turns eight". Stuff. 1 August 2009.
  13. "Parents of kidnapped baby Kahu angry over TV drama". The New Zealand Herald. 29 July 2010.
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