The Judges

At present there are six judges headed by the Chief Judge. Usually one judge alone presides. However where cases raise important questions, the Chief Judge may elect to have a full court with at least three judges sitting.

Her Honour Chief Judge Christina Inglis

KAIWHAKAWĀ MATUA CHRISTINA INGLIS

Chief Judge Christina Inglis was sworn in as Kaiwhakawā o Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa ǀ Judge of the Employment Court of New Zealand, in 2011 and appointed as Kaiwhakawā Matua ǀ Chief Judge, on 10 July 2017. 

She holds an LLM (Hons) from Victoria University and an MA (Hons) from Canterbury University.  She was a Crown Counsel at Te Tare Ture o Karauna ǀ Crown Law for many years, with a primary focus on civil litigation, public law and employment law. Most recently she led the Human Rights Team at Crown Law.  

While in practice she appeared in most Courts and Tribunals.  Chief Judge Inglis was formerly on the Advisory Board of the New Zealand Centre for Human Rights Law, Policy and Practice; is a member of the Board of the Access to Justice Advisory Group, a joint initiative of the Chief Justice and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Justice; is Chair of Te Awa Tuia Tangata, the Heads of Bench judicial diversity committee; and is a member of the Heads of Bench Conduct Advisory Committee.  In 2023 Chief Judge Inglis was patron for Wing 368 of the Royal New Zealand Police College.  She has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Te Herenga Waka ǀ Victoria University (to be conferred in December 2023) in recognition of her contribution to the law. 

His Honour Judge K G Smith

Judge Kerry Smith was appointed as Kaiwhakawā o Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa ǀ Judge of the Employment Court of New Zealand in 2016.

He graduated with an LLB degree from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury in 1982 and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1983.

He worked for two law firms in Ōtautahi | Christchurch before joining a firm that eventually became Buddle Findlay, joining the partnership in 1991. He remained in that partnership from 1991 until December 2015.

His specialist areas of practice were employment, resource management, civil litigation, and health and safety.

Her Honour Judge J C Holden

Judge Joanna Holden was appointed as Kaiwhakawā o Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa ǀ Judge of the Employment Court of New Zealand, in September 2017.

She has a BA LLB from Te Herenga Waka ǀ Victoria University of Wellington and was admitted to the bar in 1985.

Her legal career began with Kensington Swan (then Young Swan Morison McKay) operating in the areas of employment law and general civil litigation.  Subsequently she joined Chapman Tripp’s litigation department where she undertook general civil, commercial and public law litigation and specialised in employment law. 

In 2004 she commenced with Te Tari Ture o te Karauna ǀ Crown Law.  Immediately prior to her appointment to the bench she was a Team Manager in the Crown Legal Risk Group.  Her specialist areas of practice were employment, health and safety, tort and public law.

Her Honour Judge Kathryn Beck

Judge Beck was appointed as Kaiwhakawā o Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa ǀ Judge of the Employment Court in July 2020 and sworn in on 7 August. She is based in Tamaki Makaurau | Auckland.

Judge Beck has a BCom LLB  from Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland.

She was President of the Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa | New Zealand Law Society from 2016 to 2019 and a partner at a boutique employment law firm from 2005 up until her appointment as Judge.  While in practice she acted for both large and small employers, individual employees and unions. She undertook reviews of a number of organisations including New Zealand Rugby.

Judge Beck brought nearly 30 years of practical legal experience to the bench. She has been President and Vice President of Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa | New Zealand Law Society, a Convener of the NZLS Employment Law Committee, a submitter for the Law Society to Select Committees on legislative change, and continues to present at conferences and educational events. She is a member of Tomo Mai, the Heads of Bench Inclusion Committee.

Her Honour Judge King

KAIWHAKAWĀ KING

Ngaati Maahanga, Ngaati Te Wehi

Judge Merepaia King was appointed as Kaiwhakawā Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa ǀ the Employment Court of New Zealand, in September 2023.

She has an LLB(Hons) and a BSocSc (in Psychology and Education) from Te Piringa - University of Waikato and was admitted in 2005.

She commenced practice with Tompkins Wake in Hamilton operating in the areas of employment law, family law and general civil litigation.  In 2010 she joined Kiely, Thompson Caisley in Auckland and focused her practice exclusively in the areas of employment and health safety law.  In 2015 she joined Buddle Findlay’s employment law team and went on to join the partnership in 2021. 

His Honour Judge B A Corkill

Judge Bruce Corkill was appointed Kaiwhakawā o Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa ǀ Judge of the Employment Court in 2014.

He has been appointed as an Acting judge until his retirement on 1 February 2025.

Judge Corkill was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand in 1975 where he practiced briefly. He then worked in England until 1982, becoming a Solicitor of England and Wales. After returning to New Zealand and practicing in general litigation in two law firms, he commenced practice as a Barrister in 1997, taking Silk in 2007.

His specialist areas of practice included employment, civil and professional disciplinary work. He was Chairperson of the Health Practitioners' Disciplinary Tribunal from 2006 to 2014.

 

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