Magistrate Heather finally retires - at 73

It takes a special kind of person to be a community magistrate.
A typical day can include remanding a murder accused in custody or handing down a sentence to a drink driver.
But a typical day can also mean making a real difference to someone's life _ something Heather White has achieved over the past nine years.
Mrs White, who turned 73 yesterday, stepped down last Friday after being a Bay community magistrate since January 25, 1999, and reaching the official retirement age on the bench.
She was one of four city magistrates appointed under a government pilot scheme to bring lay people with life experience and the ability to apply common sense to the law into the courts, and speed up the legal process.
Mrs White had previously been a teacher for 40 years, including 23 years at Mount Maunganui College, before retiring in 1997.
She was farewelled last Thurs-day at Tauranga courthouse by a large contingent of lawyers, prosecutors, judges and court staff after a "thoroughly enjoyable" nine years.
Mrs White wasn't a complete stranger to the workings of the justice system when appointed, because her son Tim was a retired police officer and her grand-daughter is now a police officer at Greerton.
But she recalls in those very early "scary days" seeking advice from two Tauranga judges _ only to get differing opinions on a case.
She was told by retired Judge Ian Thomas: "At the end of the day it is your court and you must do what you think is right."
Mrs White said it was the best advice she could have been given, and always applied it to the cases she presided over.
Most defendants accepted she was just doing her job, she said.
"You can only do your best to try to do the right thing for each person, and hope they're receptive to your message and listen to your advice as what not to do to stop them coming back before the courts."
Presiding over a magistrate's court had been demanding, she said.
"But I have never felt threatened or intimidated by anyone who came before me in my whole time on the bench.
"There's probably been about three occasions when someone slammed the doors on their way out and a couple of times someone questioned my pedigree, but after 40 years' teaching I had learnt to have selected hearing."
Mrs White said she often saw defendants around town after they had appeared before her.
"Sometimes people call out to me `hey miss, are you still at court?' or come up to me and tell me they are really glad about what I did.
"It gives you a nice warm feeling when you know that you were able to make a difference to their life, which is an important part of the ... role. I will miss that."
Justice Secretary Belinda Clark said Mrs White was appointed because of her ability to apply her understanding of community values when ruling on court cases, and her service to Tauranga, Waihi and Whakatane courts was "committed and consistent".
"Mrs White has shown all the qualities required for this work, using her community knowledge and insight gained from years as a teacher dealing with young people and their parents.
"Because of her wisdom, humanity and sense of humour, as well as her shrewd understanding of human nature, she has made a very important contribution to this programme."
Ms Clark said court staff had always found Mrs White a pleasure to work with and the mutual support that existed between her and the other magistrates, Robyn Paterson and Kevin Hurley, was an "inspiration" to everyone at the courts.
Paul Mabey QC agreed.
Mr Mabey lauded Mrs White for the way she discharged her duties, and said defence counsel and clients both benefited from her common sense advice. When anyone was placed on the mat for a dressing down, it was always done with the client's interests in mind.
At this stage no one has been appointed to replace Mrs White.
And the future?
Mrs White doesn't have any firm plans, but has many interests which will consume her time _ she's an avid reader, sometime gardener and has a 110-year-old house with "cupboards full of stuff" much in need of attention.