Swearing-In of a New Chief Justice - Dame Helen Winkelmann

Swearing in of Rt. Hon. Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann GNZM

On 14 March 2019, Dame Helen Winkelmann GNZM was sworn in as the 13th Chief Justice of New Zealand and Tokelau. The line of Chief Justices began with Sir William Martin in 1841. However, her Honour’s appointment was the first ever appointment of the head of our final appellate court, the Supreme Court of New Zealand, which was only formed in 2004 at a time when Dame Sian Elias was already Chief Justice.

Live streamed from the courthouse, the swearing in ceremony demonstrated the unique traditions of New Zealand/Aotearoa. Both the Māori and common law traditions are centuries old and it was fitting that they were both represented.