Judge Barrie Travis
Judge Travis, a long-serving Judge of the Employment Court in Auckland, retired at the end of 2012.
A member of the Court since 1989, Judge Travis has been responsible for some of the leading decisions across the employment jurisdiction. In recent times, the general public will have come to know Judge Travis due to his involvement with the large-scale industrial action involving the Ports of Auckland and the Maritime Union. His Honour had the respect of both parties, a key ingredient in getting them back to the bargaining table. As we have mentioned elsewhere in this edition of Employment News, that dispute finally appears to be nearing an end.
Widely respected amongst practitioners, employers, employees, and unions alike, Judge Travis will be missed. We wish him all the best in retirement, and hope that he will remain active in the field of employment law.
Judge Mark Perkins
On 5 February 2013, the Attorney-General appointed Judge Mark Perkins as a permanent Judge of the Employment Court.
A former partner here at Hesketh Henry from 1993, Judge Perkins was appointed as a District Court Judge in 1999. He has served in that position since then, apart from 2006 and 2009, where he served as a temporary Judge of the Employment Court.
Judge Perkins will take up his new position at the Employment Court on 8 April 2013, replacing Judge Travis; taking over his practice, so to speak. On behalf of all of his former colleagues at Hesketh Henry, we wish him all the best in his new role, and look forward to seeing him in court.