Graham Panckhurst
New Zealand judge (born 1945)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Graham Ken Panckhurst KNZM KC (born 1945) is a retired New Zealand High Court judge. He chaired the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster.
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1945 (age 80–81)
Sir Graham Panckhurst | |
|---|---|
Panckhurst in 2015 | |
| Judge of the High Court of New Zealand | |
| In office 1996–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Graham Ken Panckhurst 1945 (age 80–81) Reefton, New Zealand |
| Spouse | Jill Panckhurst |
Early life and family
Born in Reefton in 1945,[1][2] Panckhurst was educated at Reefton District High School[3] and Christchurch Boys' High School.[4] He went on to study law at the University of Canterbury, and was elected to the university's Student Representative Council.[5] He married his wife, Jill, a registered nurse, in the late 1960s.[6][7]
Legal career
Panckhurst was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Christchurch on 20 February 1970.[8] In 1985, he was appointed as Crown Solicitor for Canterbury and the West Coast. Panckhurst took silk in 1994 and was appointed to the High Court bench in 1996.[9] He retired from the High Court bench in 2014.
Notable work
In 2009, Panckhurst heard the retrial of David Bain. The trial was substantial with the prosecution calling 150 witnesses.[10] In 2010, Panckhurst was appointed to head the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster.[11]
Honours
In November 2014, Panckhurst was granted the retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of his service as a High Court judge.[12] In the 2015 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the judiciary.[13] In 2025, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law by the University of Canterbury.[14][15]
