Moving welcome for Judge Paul Mabey QC to Rotorua judicial bench

Rotorua's new district court judge, Queen's Counsel Paul Mabey, was welcomed to the bench with a pohiri in the same courtroom where he acted as defence counsel in numerous high-profile jury trials.

Judge Mabey's appointment was announced last April and he had been sitting in Tauranga District Court since.

He is replacing Judge Chris McGuire, who presided in Rotorua for 19 years before moving to the Manukau District Court this week.

Senior Rotorua judge, Phillip Cooper, wearing a traditional korowai (cloak), said many tears had been shed when Judge McGuire was handed over to Ngati Whatua iwi, but Judge Mabey's arrival in Rotorua to join the people of Te Arawa was greeted with joy.

Both Judge Cooper and Judge Peter Rollo of Tauranga, who escorted Judge Mabey, spoke in te reo Maori and Rotorua family court Judge Alayne Wills called the new judge into the courtroom with a moving karenga.

As the ceremony progressed, she led Judge Mabey by the hand from those sitting with the Tauranga contingent to join fellow Rotorua Judges Cooper, Maree McKenzie, Tony Snell, Coroner Wallace Bain and court manager Dan O'Brien.

In reply, Judge Mabey said the Rotorua court was not a strange place to him, he knew the crown and defence counsel in attendance well.

"I am now looking forward to seeing you from the other side," he joked.

Court staff performed a waiata and hongi were exchanged.

Judge Mabey was also accompanied by Tauranga Judges Emma Parsons and Annis Somerville, Crown solicitor Greg Hollister-Jones, senior Tauranga counsel Bill and Rita Nabney and court staff.

When Judge Mabey was sworn in as judge in Tauranga in April last year, Judge Louis Bidois said his elevation to the bench had left a "huge hole in the criminal bar".

Mr Nabney said Rotorua's gain was Tauranga's loss.

"Rotorua is very fortunate to have a judge of Judge Mabey's calibre join their bench. I'm sure that the Rotorua bar will be very appreciative of his knowledge and assistance."

Mr Nabney said the pohiri was an "impressive and moving" welcome.

"Rotorua's court staff have a well-honed machine when it comes to this sort of welcome and they put a lot of energy and passion into welcoming Judge Mabey to Rotorua."

Rotorua's Crown Solicitor Amanda Gordon said the pohiri was "very lovely" and Judge Mabey was clearly moved by the passionate welcome from Rotorua court staff.

"Judge Mabey is a highly experienced criminal judge. From what I have heard from the Tauranga lawyers he hit the ground running since his appointment to the bench.

"I expect it will be a just as smooth transition from the Tauranga to Rotorua bench, and we are all looking forward to working more closely with him," she said.

Rotorua criminal defence barrister Bill Lawson from Lance Lawson law firm said Judge Mabey QC was well known to him and his colleagues.

"Paul Mabey was a very experienced criminal barrister, his knowledge of the law is frankly second to none, and he is a well liked and highly respected judicial officer.

"Paul's addition to the Rotorua judiciary is invaluable to this community," he said.