Justices of the Peace throughout New Zealand are today celebrating the 200th anniversary of the 1814 appointment of the Reverend Thomas Kendall as the first JP.
To mark this significant occasion, the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, will host more than 200 JPs from throughout New Zealand at a reception at Government House on November 25.
At the reception, a set of five commemorative stamps will be officially launched. The set of stamps has been designed to reflect many elements of the work of JPs in New Zealand over the last 200 years.
President of the the Taranaki Justices of the Peace Paul Wadsworth says New Zealand's 7000 JPs provide an important free service to their communities by witnessing signatures, certifying copies of documents and administering statutory declarations and affidavits.
Being able to access JPs through service centres that have been established in many locations such as libraries, Citizen's Advice Bureaus, shopping malls, community centres and some courts has given the public easier access.