20 years of the Supreme Court – Te Kōti Mana Nui: Speeches

The first sitting of the New Zealand Supreme Court took place 20 years ago on 1 July 2004, marking the final step in New Zealand’s journey towards judicial independence. The Supreme Court replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, and became our country's final court of appeal.

The establishment of the Supreme Court was a testament to New Zealand's growth as an independent nation. It improved access to justice and enabled important legal matters, including those relating to te Tiriti o Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi, to be resolved with an understanding of New Zealand's past, its present, and the interconnection of all its laws.

In her speech at the Special Sitting of the New Zealand Supreme Court in July 2004, the Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias, the Chief Justice at the time, expressed the aspirations for the Court. She emphasised that the Court serves an idea much bigger than all of us, “an aspiration for the delivery of justice”.

Dame Sian Elias highlighted the opportunities and expectations that came with the establishment of the Supreme Court. She spoke about the potential for better understanding of the interconnection of all our laws, greater accessibility, and a deeper comprehension of New Zealand’s history and traditions.

In February 2024, at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Court, the Right Honourable Dame Helen Winkelmann, the current Chief Justice, spoke about the role the Supreme Court has played in overseeing both the development of the law and the operation of New Zealand’s system of justice, and in supporting public understanding of the content of the law and of the courts as an institution.

1 July 2004: Dame Sian Elias speech (PDF, 23 KB) 16 February 2024 A View from the Top - Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann (PDF, 392 KB)