Office of the chief Justice
6 July 2015
Chief Justice notes passing of Sir Ronald Davison
Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias notes with regret the passing of Sir Ronald Davison GBE, CMG, QC who died on Thursday aged
94.
Chief Justice between 1978 and 1989, Sir Ronald was one of the last remaining members of the New Zealand judiciary who
had served in the Second World War.
“Perhaps this background influenced his strongly held belief in the importance of protecting the legal rights of
individuals and minority groups, and that the judiciary must strive to remain in tune with responsible public opinion,”
Dame Sian said.
As Chief Justice, Sir Ronald had been responsible for overseeing significant and widespread reform of New Zealand’s
justice system.
Dame Sian said changes introduced during Sir Ronald’s tenure included the renaming of the Supreme Court as the High
Court, Magistrates' courts becoming District Courts, and the introduction of new High Court rules and court management
systems.
“The years when he was Chief Justice marked a period of active change to New Zealand’s justice system, and indeed helped
bring it into the modern era.
“Sir Ronald’s contribution to the New Zealand legal landscape was immense, and his legacy continues to be experienced by
anyone coming into contact with today’s court processes,” Dame Sian said.
ENDS