Top NZ judge Sir Ivor Richardson dies aged 84

Rt Hon Sir Ivor Richardson. File photo / NZ Herald

One of New Zealand's most senior and respected judges Rt Hon Sir Ivor Richardson has died at the age of 84.

Sir Ivor was appointed a judge of the then Supreme Court in 1977. Such was his reputation that he was almost immediately appointed to the Court of Appeal, where he served from 1978 to 2002.

He was President of the Court of Appeal from 1996 until his retirement at age 72.

Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias led the tributes to Sir Ivor yesterday, saying he had "an unparalleled influence on New Zealand law during his long tenure as a judge, law teacher, and adviser".

"His work as an appellate judge for nearly three decades touched all areas of law and provided leading cases which remain authoritative today. In addition, his collegial approach to judging and his interest in better judicial administration meant that he has had a unique influence upon the operation of the courts," she said.

"Sir Ivor's openness about judicial work, his emphasis on the importance of reasons, his often-expressed conviction that 'the courts are the people's courts' and his spare and principled judgments have affected the way in which all judges work today."

Attorney General Chris Finlayson also spoke highly of Sir Ivor.

"It is hard to think of anyone who has made a more substantive contribution to the law and social policy than Sir Ivor Richardson," Mr Finlayson said.