For the first time in New Zealand a bench has achieved gender balance. This happened with the appointment of Wellington lawyer Brigitte Windley as a Coroner.

With the final sitting of former Wellington Coroner Garry Evans on 19 November, and Coroner Windley’s swearing in on 23 November, a majority of Coroners are now women.

From 23 November nine of New Zealand’s coroners are women and eight are men, New Zealand Law Society President Chris Moore says.

“We’re obviously not trying to get into a numbers game, but this is a very important milestone along the road to gender equality and diversity in the legal profession.

“It is one to celebrate and the Law Society congratulates Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson on this achievement.

“Women make up 30% of the permanent judiciary in our other courts but comprise almost half of practising lawyers. The Law Society will continue to advocate for and support more women on the bench,” Mr Moore says.