Ronald Davison
CMG QC | |
---|---|
10th Chief Justice of New Zealand | |
In office 3 February 1978 – 4 February 1989 | |
Nominated by | Robert Muldoon |
Appointed by | Sir Keith Holyoake |
Preceded by | Richard Wild |
Succeeded by | Thomas Eichelbaum |
Personal details | |
Born | Kaponga, Taranaki | 16 November 1920
Died | 2 July 2015 Auckland, New Zealand | (aged 94)
Spouse |
Jacqueline May Carr (m. 1948) |
Sir Ronald Keith Davison
Early life and family
Born in Kaponga on 16 November 1920, Davison was the son of Joseph James Davison and Florence Minnie Davison (née McCleland).[2] He was educated at Te Kuiti District High School.[2] During World War II, he served with the New Zealand Army (1941–1942) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (1942–1945), before compleing a Bachelor of Laws degree at Auckland University College in 1947.[2]
In 1948, Davison married Jacqueline May Carr, and the couple had three children,
Career
Davison presided over the case of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. His sentence of 10 years jail for the French secret service agents was highly applauded, and he made a memorable statement:[3]
People who come to this country and commit terrorist activities cannot expect to have a short holiday at the expense of our Government and return home as heroes.
When The New Zealand Herald celebrated its 150th birthday in November 2013, they named a "New Zealander of the Year" for each year of their history. Davison was their New Zealander of the Year for 1985 for his conduct during the trial of the French secret service agents.[3]
Davison headed the government inquiry (1994–1997) into certain matters related to overseas company taxation, popularly known as the Winebox Inquiry. This involved allegations against a number of parties including the merchant bank Fay Richwhite. He also presided over the 1994 inquiry into the Family court proceedings involving the Bristol family, which resulted in a number of changes being made to New Zealand's child protection legislation.
Davison was appointed
Death
Davison died on 2 July 2015.[7] Jacqueline, Lady Davison, died in Auckland on 16 November 2016.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Former Chief Justices". Courts of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ a b Hastings, David (November 2013). "1985, Ronald Davison: Judge condemns state terrorism". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Rt Hon Sir Ronald Keith Davison GBE CMG QC, 1920–2015". New Zealand Law Society. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "No. 46595". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1975. p. 7405.
- ^ "No. 47471". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 February 1978. p. 2451.
- ^ "Winebox Inquiry chair Sir Ronald Davison dies". Radio New Zealand. 5 July 2015.
- ^ "Jacqueline Davison death notice". The New Zealand Herald. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.