Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:615;Page:11431] 
10.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Attorney-General 
: What steps did she take to satisfy herself as to the appropriateness of appointing Anthony Christiansen a Master of the High Court in light of his earlier resignation from the position of District Court judge? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON (Attorney-General) 
: 
 The normal process for such appointments was followed in this instance. The position was advertised applicants were subject to a vetting process as to their qualifications for the position and recommendations were made. 
Judith Collins 
: Can the Attorney-General confirm that she and she alone makes the decision to appoint High Court officers after advice from the Chief Justice and the Solicitor-General; if so does she take full responsibility for the appointment of Mr Christiansen as a Master of the High Court? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: Yes. 
Tim Barnett 
: What reforms has the Minister promoted with regard to judicial appointments? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: In 2002 I commissioned a report called  
Judicial Administration Issues 
 from Sir Geoffrey Palmer. This report confirmed that the present appointments process was robust but suggested that a judicial appointments and liaison office be established to better support the Attorney-General in making appointments. This process is well under way and the office will be established within the Crown Law Office this year. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: When was Anthony Christiansen made a District Court judge and who appointed him? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: The Attorney-General—myself—recommended the appointment to the Governor-General. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No as a District Court judge. 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: Sorry. I think it was in 1996 or 1995 that he was appointed a judge. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: By whom? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: By the Attorney-General in the previous Government. 
Judith Collins 
: What changed between Mr Christiansen’s resignation as a District Court judge in Napier and her appointing him Master of the High Court given that at the time of Mr Christiansen’s appointment as a master the Hon Phil Goff continued to stand by his statements that Mr Christiansen could have brought the judiciary into disrepute? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: Master Christiansen could have brought the judiciary into disrepute when he had the position of District Court judge but in my view he did not by resigning after the incident involved. He showed an ability to take personal responsibility for his actions and stepped down in case he did bring the judiciary into disrepute. He then got on with his life and when an advertisement came up for a Master of the High Court he applied—as he was perfectly entitled to do as any other person was. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Could the Attorney-General advise the House which party was in Government when this man was appointed a District Court judge and which MP now was then not just a member of the Law Society but a member of its official organisation when it approved that appointment? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister has no responsibility for the second part of the question but may answer the first part. 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: The National Party was in Government at the time and I am aware of course that one of the members on the Opposition benches was a member of the Law Society committee at that time. 
Judith Collins 
: Is there any significant difference between this Attorney-General’s role and that of a tick-box sheet; if so can the Minister explain to the House quite what judgment if any she brings to her role on judicial appointments? 
Hon MARGARET WILSON 
: Yes judgment is brought to the role and in this instance I made the judgment that Master Christiansen was worth a second chance in much the same way as the honourable member did when she was a member of the Law Society and considered similar cases. 
Judith Collins 
: I want to make a personal explanation. At the relevant time I was certainly a member of the council of the Auckland District Law Society; I was not at that stage its president and I was certainly never consulted about the appointment of Mr Anthony Christiansen. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table evidence that such appointments go before the councils of the Law Society and not just before its head. 
Document not tabled .