Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced the appointment of Douglas White QC, Donna Buckingham and Helen McQueen as new members of the Law Commission, each for a term of five years.
"Between them, these three new appointees have a tremendous depth of experience and know-how, and bring a fresh perspective to one of the justice sector's most important policy institutions," Ms Adams says.
"With their considerable legal experience, I'm confident they will each provide a valuable contribution to the Commission's law reform projects in the coming years."
Ms Adams has also acknowledged the contributions of the two outgoing Law Commissioners, Judge Peter Boshier and Dr Geoffrey McLay.
"I want to pay tribute to the important contribution Judge Boshier and Dr McLay have each made over their time as Law Commissioners. They have left a tremendous legacy of reports which have helped improve the legal framework of New Zealand and I'm grateful for all their work."
The Hon Douglas White QC retired as a Judge of the Court of Appeal in September 2015. He was appointed to the High Court in 2009 and to the Court of Appeal in 2012. He was appointed a Queens Counsel in 1988. He joined the independent Bar in 1986 and conducted inquiries for the State Services Commission into various matters. He was Pro-Chancellor and Chancellor at Victoria University for nine years.
Donna Buckingham is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Otago. Her teaching and research interests include statutory interpretation, evidence, civil procedure and the regulation of the legal profession. She is the Director of the New Zealand Legal Information Institute and is a former President of the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Law Society. She is also former President of the Ako Aotearoa Academy of Tertiary Teaching Excellence.
Helen McQueen has been a consultant with Chapman Tripp since 2005 and before that was a partner of that firm from 1997. She is a commercial litigator with recent emphasis on advising the Earthquake Commission on Canterbury earthquake issues. From 2011 to 2013, Ms McQueen was a member of Chapman Tripp's team for the New Zealand Law Foundation's Regulatory Reform Project conducted at Victoria University Law Faculty in partnership with New Zealand Institute of Economic Research.