Tuesday, 27 November 2001 Media Statement
President of the Electoral Commission appointed
Associate Minister of Justice Margaret Wilson has announced the appointment of Hon Justice Ellis as the new President of
the Electoral Commission. The previous President, Hon Justice Ronald Young resigned in July following his appointment to
the High Court bench.
Justice Ellis graduated from Victoria University in 1959 and was at one time a partner in the Wellington legal firm
Brandons. He practised as a barrister from 1979 and became a Queen’s Counsel in 1981. In 1985 he was appointed to the
High Court Bench and has had a distinguished career presiding over a wide range of trials.
He has previously served as the President of the Wellington District Law Society and Vice President of the New Zealand
Law Society. He is a former member of the Legal Aid Board and the Legal Aid Appeal Authority as well as the Medical
Council.
Justice Ellis's appointment is effective immediately.
The Electoral Commission is an independent statutory agency responsible for:
- registering political parties and party logos
- receiving registered parties' annual returns of donations and election expenses
- allocating election broadcasting time and funds to eligible political parties
- conducting public education about electoral matters.
ENDS