| The Honourable Sir Eddie Durie KNZM |
|
|---|---|
| Justice of the High Court | |
| In office 1998 – 2004 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 January 1940 |
| Spouse(s) | Donna Hall |
Sir Edward "Eddie" Taihakurei Durie, KNZM (born 18 January 1940) was the first Māori appointed as a Justice of the High Court of New Zealand and is regarded as leading legal expert on the Treaty of Waitangi.
He graduated with a BA and an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1964. He holds honorary doctorates from Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University and the University of Waikato.
Durie was the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court from 1980–1998 and Chairman of the Waitangi Tribunal from 1980–2004 and Law Commissioner. In 1998 he was appointed to the High Court and retired in 2004, at which point he was the longest-serving member of the New Zealand judiciary.
In the 2008 New Years Honours List Durie was appointed a Distinguished Companions of New Zealand Order of Merit which was later converted to Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.
In 2009, Durie was appointed by the Attorney General to Chair the Ministerial Taskforce on the Foreshore and Seabed Act.[1]
Durie has been retrieved for service to his iwi. He is the younger brother of renowned Māori academic, Professor Sir Mason Durie.