Auckland barrister Mina Wharepouri has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based in Manukau.

Mr Wharepouri was admitted in October 1995 and began work with Kensington Swan. He moved to Russell McVeagh in 1997 and was counsel for several Māori claimants in proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Between 2003 and 2011 he worked for Meredith Connell, leading District Court and High Court jury trials. He also trained police in matters relating to evidence and prosecution.

Judge Wharepouri became a barrister sole in 2012 and appeared regularly in District Court and High Court trials.

He will be sworn in on 1 June 2016 in Manukau.