Manukau District Court Judge Karina Williams died on 2 September 2005 following a short illness. Two years before, she became only the second Maori woman to become a District Court judge when she was sworn in on 4 September 2003.

After her education at St Cuthbert’s College and Auckland University, Karina Williams was admitted in 1989 and practised as a barrister sole in Manukau from 1993 until her appointment to the bench.

Her enthusiasm for sport saw her become an Auckland representative netball player and coach of South Auckland teenage and school teams for many years.

Of Tuhoe, Te Whakatohea, Tainui, Te Aupouri and Ngaitai descent, she maintained strong links to her whanau and community through sport and cultural activities, including coaching and composing for kapa haka groups.

This obituary was first published in LawTalk 654, 3 October 2005, page 4.