A Whangārei-based District Court judge has been named as the new Principal Family Court Judge.
Judge La-Verne King will begin in the role in November, replacing Judge Jackie Moran who is retiring after holding the position since 2018. Attorney-General Chris Bishop announced the appointment today.
Judge King, of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa and Ngati Paoa descent, was admitted to the Bar in 1989. In 1994 she co-founded KAM Legal, the first law firm in New Zealand founded by Māori and Pasifika women.
After relocating to the Far North in 2007, she established Doubtless Bay Law Limited to serve legal needs in the area. She joined the District Court bench in 2019 and has presided primarily over Family and Youth Court matters in Northland throughout her time as a judge.
She took on the role of Family Court Liaison Judge for Northland in 2021. Her earlier appointments included Youth Advocate in 1992, Counsel for Child in 1994, District Inspector for Mental Health in 2003, and Visiting Justice in 2009. In August 2018 she joined an independent panel reviewing the 2014 Family Justice Reforms.