Sir Owen Woodhouse and the making of New Zealand Law
Sir Owen Woodhouse made a significant contribution to New Zealand during his lifetime as a progressive and innovative figure leading in social reform and the development of New Zealand jurisprudence. Sir Owen was well respected for his generosity and compassion and was a judge who valued instinctive judgement for the human factor above intellectual pursuits.
Sir Owen studied part-time at Auckland University College (now the University of Auckland) from 1935 – 1939 completing an LLB in 1940 whilst also working as a law clerk. His legal career was put on hold by World War II in which he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve between 1943 – 1945 being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for naval operations in the Adriatic.
Upon his return to New Zealand, Sir Owen practiced law in Napier before being appointed Crown Solicitor for Napier in 1953. In 1961 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court (now High Court) where he served until 1973 when he was appointed to the Court of Appeal. In 1981 he was appointed President of the Court of Appeal until retirement in 1986.
During his time as a Judge of the Supreme Court, Sir Owen led on the ground-breaking reform of New Zealand’s personal injury compensation. He is best known for chairing the Royal Commission on Personal Injury in New Zealand from 1966 – 1967. The outcome, known as the Woodhouse Report, recommended that New Zealand introduce a no-fault accident compensation scheme. The scheme, which continues today, is internationally renowned as a major innovation.
Join us for the Sir Owen Woodhouse Memorial Lecture
Date: Thursday 20 October 2022
Location: Auckland Law School (9 Eden Crescent)
Time:
- Pre-Lecture Reception
- 6pm-6.30pm
- Staff Common Room
- Building 801 Room 409
- Lecture
- 6.30pm–7.30pm
- Stone Lecture Theatre
- Building 801 Room 316