Tauranga Crown lawyer named Judge

Tauranga Crown lawyer Greg Hollister-Jones will be appointed as a judge next month. Photo/supplied

Tauranga's Crown Solicitor Greg Hollister-Jones has been appointed the region's newest judge.

Judge Hollister-Jones, who has been a senior partner in Hollister-Jones Lellman law firm and Crown solicitor since April 1998, will take up the position after he is officially sworn in on April 5 In Tauranga.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced the news this morning.

Judge Hollister-Jones will be based in the District Court of Rotorua.

Judge Greg Hollister-Jones is a highly experienced criminal judge, after clocking up more than 30 years as a ligitator and trial lawyer across civil, family, employment and criminal law.

He has appeared as counsel in most New Zealand's courts and tribunals.

After graduating from Victoria University with law degree with honours in 1981, he worked in Wellington, London and Auckland, including at Auckland-based law firm Meredith Connell where he trained as Crown prosecutor.

In 1992, he moved his family to Tauranga where he commenced practise as a barrister, undertaking general civil litigation, and criminal trial both for the prosecution and defence.

He was appointed Tauranga's first Crown Solicitor in 1998, and was one of the founding partners in HJL law firm.

Judge Hollister-Jones has acted as Medical Council of New Zealand, and also for the NZ Law Society in relation to professional disciplinary cases.

Outside his legal profession, the judge was former chairman of Bethlehnm College's Board of Trustees and current chairman of St Peter's Care and Counselling Trust - a chartiable trust which provides free counselling and life skill courses.

Judge Hollister-Jones joins New Plymouth barrister and solicitor Haamiora Raumati who was also announced an Acting District Court Judge today. Judge Raumati will be based in Gisborne.