Rebellion against the establishment has been a vital part of our history in Aotearoa. There is a whakatauki that describes this well: Tutu ana te puehu, which literally means, To stir up the dust.

A long handshake is like the touching of foreheads in a hongi it embraces our shared connection. It also reflects our JANZ mantra: you are not alone.

Read JANZ’s president Gerard Winter’s July letter to JANZ members,

We all hope for progress when we think about our future courts. We all want to leave things better for the judges who follow us and the citizens we serve. How do we achieve that? For Thiel, any progress takes place in two ways. Read more.

During her term as Attorney-General, Margaret Wilson reminded all members of parliament (MPs) of their responsibility to demonstrate restraint and respect when commenting on judges or the courts. Her caution is worth repeating in light of the recent ignorant criticism of two judges in the press and on social media. Her wise words, while directed at politicians, are of equal importance to the fourth estate and the virtue signalling mob that follows them.

There is a pressing realisation that judicial retirement ages may be causing undue expense to the public purse, and deprive the judiciary of skilled adjudicators.