The retirement of Auckland University Associate Professor Kenneth Palmer was marked by a special sitting of the Environment Court in Auckland on 10 December 2015.
The Court comprised Principal Environment Judge LJ Newhook, Justice AP Randerson, Justice ED
The special Environment Court sitting in Auckland on 10 December 2015 for Professor Palmer.
Wylie, Chief Employment Court Judge GL Colgan, Environment Judge JA Smith, Environment Judge DA Kirkpatrick, and Environment Commissioner ACE Leijnen.
Professor Palmer has retired after 46 years as a barrister, academic, editor and author, with a focus on planning, resource management and local government law. Justice Randerson noted that his books Local Government Law in New Zealand, Environmental and Resource Management Law, and Local Authorities Law in New Zealand had quickly become "bibles in their respective fields".
Justice Randerson said Professor Palmer's careful, thorough and sound analysis of the law was balanced by his reputation of honesty, integrity and kindness.
"These are enduring personal values that transcend in importance all the very considerable achievements you've made in your lengthy career," he said.
The Court was also addressed by Peter Salmon QC, Bronwyn Carruthers (New Zealand Law Society Environmental Law Committree), Andrew Brown QC (Legal Research Foundation), Royden Somerville QC, and Professor Barry Barton (Waikato University).
Professor Palmer addresses the Court.
Professor Palmer replied, looking back over his career in the law and some of the cases he had been involved in.