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After a year of critical changes in Treaty of Waitangi policy, Maoridom's heaviest judicial hitter will be appointed to the High Court.
Attorney-General Michael Cullen announced yesterday that the Maori Land Court's chief judge, Joe Williams, who also has the dual role of chairing the Waitangi Tribunal, is
to be sworn in (sources say next Friday).
Last year Judge Williams' tribunal handed the Government two damning reports on process that commentators say have led to vast improvements as well as the $500 million Treelords deal.
But don't call him a judicial activist, Judge Williams said.
"I think there are two kinds of judges, conservative judges and really conservative judges. Hot-headed debates are for another place, not for the courtroom."
Treaty settlements were looking in good shape, as were both the court and tribunal, which is why he made the decision after nine years to move on.
"I went to law school and to practise law because of a belief I could make a difference for my own community - and that was my mission up until this point. For me it's a chance to try new things."
There are a number of candidates who could take up both roles. Judge Carrie Wainwright is the deputy chairwoman of the tribunal and Judge Wilson Isaac is the Maori Land Court's deputy chief. But law commentator and Auckland University professor David Williams said it wasn't clear who would step into the roles.
The land court's bench was one of the strongest and highest qualified in the country - a direct result of the chief judge's work. He also had succeeded in seeing more Maori appointed to the court, Professor Williams said.
"Before Joe was appointed very, very few of the judges were Maori. For years there would only be one [on the bench]. He wanted to make sure very capable Maori women and men were appointed as Maori Land Court judges and he has. That's a significant achievement."
But the National Party's Maori Affairs spokesman, Tau Henare, is accusing Labour of tainting reputations by making the call so close to the election.
Mr Henare had a hand in appointing Judge Williams, 47, to the Maori Land Court in 1999 but said the Labour Party had "lost its marbles", because the appointment would be seen as politically motivated as consultation across parties hadn't taken place, he said.
"I personally think he's been fantastic but what I'm really concerned about is that the Government thinks they can get away with making a huge appointment eight weeks out from an election.
"If you do, you sully the name of the appointee - they will be tainted by a dying government."
