Personal bio
I am a NZ-born Kiwi of Scottish-Irish descent. My "credential set" is as follows:
- Bachelor of Arts ( in History), Auckland University, completed 1972
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Auckland University, completed
1974. The Honours research essay was in the subject of Medico-
Legal problems.
- Master of Jurisprudence (Distinction), Auckland University,
completed 1978, The two research papers were in the areas of
Criminal Law (where the approaches to voluntary euthanasia in
various jurisdictions (including New Zealand) was examined,
including proposals and attempts at law reform), and in Land
Law (where the history of government provision of housing,
including the State Advances Corporation (which became the
Housing Corporation and Housing New Zealand Corporation)
was examined).
- Bachelor of Theology (Distinction), Otago University, completed
1998 (in Ethics and Systematic Theology)
- Admitted to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor 30 January 1976
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) since 4 June
1984
- Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand
[Associate since 18 December 1987 and Fellow (in Arbitration)
since 26 July 1996]
- Member of the NZ Law Society and the Property Law Section of
the NZ Law Society
- Member of the Retirement Villages Disputes Panel (a Panel of
adjudicators for retirement village disputes) since 8 February
2019
- Member of Resolution Institute [formerly LEADR (Lawyers
Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolution]
- Former Associate of New Zealand Institute of Management
(since 24 May 1985) – membership discontinued
- Former Member of the Property Institute of NZ (since 12
December 1984), formerly known as the Property Management
Institute of New Zealand and the Property and Land Economy
Institute of New Zealand -membership discontinued
- Notary Public (since 4 February 1988)
- Member of the New Zealand Society of Notaries
- Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand College of Notaries (ANZCN)
My professional history is as follows"
- Holmden Horrocks and Co, Solicitors (Solicitor) 1974 – 1976
- Creditmens' Duns' (NZ) Ltd (Legal Adviser) 1976 – 1977
- Housing Corporation of NZ ( Solicitor and District Solicitor) 1977 –
1986
- Lecturer (part-time) in Commercial Law, Auckland Technical
Institute 1977 - 1979
- Part-time tutor in Finance Law, University of Auckland, 1978 – 1987
- Sole Practice 1987 – 2019. This was a general practice which
specialised in Property Transactions (rural and urban real
estate, financing, retirement villages), Wills, Administration
of Deceased Estates, Trusts, Estate Planning, Commercial Law,
Family and Relationship Law, Consumer Law, Superannuation,
Civil Litigation, Dispute Resolution (Mediation and Arbitration).
- Involved in alternative dispute resolution (Ho hau te rongo)
since 1984 (mediation and arbitration)
- Legal Consultant 1/5/2019 to present. I continue to hold a
practising certificate to undertake locums, legal work for my
own family, and consultancies.
- Disputes Panel Member on Panel of Adjudicators for Retirement
Village Disputes [established by the Retirement Villages Act
2003 (NZ)] - 3 decisions completed to date, which appear
on the Retirement Commission Website.