Helen Clark and her bid for the UN job

[Banditbandit]

Getting rid of the privy council. Because our judges here are so fukn good right

Bill Birch, Jim Bolger, Helen Clarke, Paul East, Sian Elias, Michael Hardie Boys, John Henry, Jonathan Hunt, Kenneth Keith, Don McKinnon, Duncan McMullin, Mike Moore, Geoffrey Palmer, Winston Peters, Jenny Shipley, Peter Tapsell, Andrew Tipping, Simon Upton

are all current members of the Privy Council - don't see too many lawyers or judges there .. less than half.


But are you suggesting that British judges are better than New Zealand judges? Do you really think that our best legal minds are sub-standard?

[TheDemonLord]

Bill Birch, Jim Bolger, Helen Clarke, Paul East, Sian Elias, Michael Hardie Boys, John Henry, Jonathan Hunt, Kenneth Keith, Don McKinnon, Duncan McMullin, Mike Moore, Geoffrey Palmer, Winston Peters, Jenny Shipley, Peter Tapsell, Andrew Tipping, Simon Upton

are all current members of the Privy Council - don't see too many lawyers or judges there .. less than half.


But are you suggesting that British judges are better than New Zealand judges? Do you really think that our best legal minds are sub-standard?

Without suggesting that NZ judges are worse than UK judges - the idea was that you had a group separate from the NZ legal system as a check and balance. Any group that has a degree of isolation (such as the NZ legal system) is susceptible to creep.

I liken the Privy council to 'a different set of eyes' and 'a fresh perspective'

[carbonhed]

Bill Birch, Jim Bolger, Helen Clarke, Paul East, Sian Elias, Michael Hardie Boys, John Henry, Jonathan Hunt, Kenneth Keith, Don McKinnon, Duncan McMullin, Mike Moore, Geoffrey Palmer, Winston Peters, Jenny Shipley, Peter Tapsell, Andrew Tipping, Simon Upton

are all current members of the Privy Council - don't see too many lawyers or judges there .. less than half.


But are you suggesting that British judges are better than New Zealand judges? Do you really think that our best legal minds are sub-standard?

i think our appeals used to go to the Judicial committee of the Privy Council... they're all legal heavyweights... could be wrong.

Wonder what Peter Ellis thinks of the calibre of our legal system? An outsiders perspective was very valuable.

[husaberg]

Bill Birch, Jim Bolger, Helen Clarke, Paul East, Sian Elias, Michael Hardie Boys, John Henry, Jonathan Hunt, Kenneth Keith, Don McKinnon, Duncan McMullin, Mike Moore, Geoffrey Palmer, Winston Peters, Jenny Shipley, Peter Tapsell, Andrew Tipping, Simon Upton

are all current members of the Privy Council - don't see too many lawyers or judges there .. less than half.


But are you suggesting that British judges are better than New Zealand judges? Do you really think that our best legal minds are sub-standard?

RE lawyers, Off the top of my head Winston Peters was one, as was Sir Geoffrey palmer.

Later after a google

John Henry (judge)
Sian Elias laywer, Judge and former chief Justice of NZ
Sir Michael Hardie Boys Laywer high court Judge and former Gov general
Sir Kenneth Keith Lawyer, judge
Sir Duncan McMullin is a retired judge of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand.
Andrew Tipping laywer judge etc etc
Simon Upton law degree

It looks like exactly half. plus a fair few ex prime ministers ie legal head of NZ, a mouldie and a few teachers