Graham Panckhurst

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Sir Graham Panckhurst

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|KNZM|KC}}

| image = Graham Panckhurst (cropped).jpg

| caption = Panckhurst in 2015

| order = Judge of the High Court of New Zealand

| term_start = 1996

| term_end = 2014

| predecessor =

| successor =

| birth_name = Graham Ken Panckhurst

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1945}}

| birth_place = Reefton, New Zealand

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Jill Panckhurst

}}

Sir Graham Ken Panckhurst {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=86%|KNZM|KC}} (born 1945) is a retired New Zealand High Court judge. He chaired the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster.

Early life and family

Born in Reefton in 1945,{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/reefton-boy-head-pike-river-inquiry-133948|title=Reefton boy to head Pike River inquiry |work=NBR |date=29 November 2010}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/igarth-georgei-a-tragedy-that-made-us-think-of-others/NI7ZCIC4CXWU7RZGI56VCNUFZI/ |title=A tragedy that made us think of others |first=Garth |last=George |date=2 December 2010 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=16 April 2022}} Panckhurst was educated at Reefton District High School{{cite web |url=https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24029 |title=Reefton District High School 1st XV, 1962 |website=West Coast New Zealand History |access-date=16 April 2022}} and Christchurch Boys' High School.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19641211.2.168 |title=Boys' High School prize giving |date=11 December 1964 |work=The Press |volume=103 |issue=30621 |page=14 |access-date=16 April 2022}} He went on to study law at the University of Canterbury, and was elected to the university's Student Representative Council.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19680613.2.122 |title=Students elected new representative group |date=13 June 1968 |work=The Press |volume=108 |issue=31704 |page=12 |access-date=16 April 2022}} He married his wife, Jill, a registered nurse, in the late 1960s.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/64560391/knighthood-misplaced-says-retired-judge |title=Knighthood misplaced, says retired judge |first=Charlie |last=Mitchell |date=31 December 2014 |work=The Press |access-date=16 April 2022}}{{cite book |title=Christchurch Central electoral district: supplementary roll no. 1 |year=1969 |publisher=Office of Registrar of Electors |location=Christchurch |page=332}}

Legal career

Panckhurst was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Christchurch on 20 February 1970.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19700221.2.85 |title=35 lawyers admitted |date=21 February 1970 |work=The Press |volume=109 |issue=32228 |page=10 |access-date=16 April 2022}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/about/high/judges/#the-honourable-justice-panckhurst|title=The Judges of the High Court|work=Courts of New Zealand|accessdate=29 November 2010}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10560297 |title=David Bain trial judge tells jury: Put 'baggage' aside |author= Edward Gay |work= The New Zealand Herald |date= 6 March 2009 |accessdate= 29 November 2010}} In 2010, Panckhurst was appointed to head the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/pike-river-mine-disaster/4399947/Pike-River-disaster-inquiry|title=Pike River disaster inquiry announced|date=29 November 2010|work=Stuff.co.nz |author1=John Hartevelt |author2=Amy Glass |author3=Kirsty Johnston |author4=Andrea Vance |author5=Michael Fox |accessdate=29 November 2010}}

Honours

In November 2014, Panckhurst was granted the retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of his service as a High Court judge.{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2014-vr7450 |title=Retention of the title 'The Honourable' |date=4 December 2014 |work=New Zealand Gazette |access-date=16 April 2022}} In the 2015 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the judiciary.{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2015 |title=New Year honours list 2015 |date=31 December 2014 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |accessdate=13 January 2018}} In 2025, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law by the University of Canterbury.{{cite news |last1=Macintosh |first1=Cate |title=Renowned Kiwi film-maker and judge among nearly 3000 honoured by Canterbury University |url= https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360644122/renowned-kiwi-film-maker-and-judge-among-nearly-3000-honoured-canterbury-university |access-date=9 April 2025 |work=The Press |date=9 April 2025}}{{cite news |title=UC honours contribution of former High Court Judge |url= https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-events/news/2025/uc-honours-legacy-of-former-high-court-judge |access-date=9 April 2025 |work=University of Canterbury |date=31 March 2025}}