Frances Eivers

Frances Jean Eivers is a New Zealand District Court judge; she is Māori and is a member of the Ngāti Maniapoto iwi.^[1] In October 2021 she was appointed Children's Commissioner for New Zealand.^[2]

Biography

Eivers was born and brought up in Te Teko in the eastern Bay of Plenty. She began her legal career in 1985, when she was admitted to the bar in the Auckland High Court.^[3] She has worked as a solicitor both in England and New Zealand, specialising in family law. In November 2000 she was appointed Counsel for the Child and in 2004 was appointed a Youth Advocate. Eivers was appointed a District Court judge with a Family Court warrant in 2009.^[4] She was sworn in as a judge at a ceremony held at her home marae, Te Teko's Kokohinau Marae.^[5] In addition, she has presided over Rangatahi Courts, which hear cases involving young Māori people.^[6]

Eivers was a founding member of Te Huinga Roia (Māori Law Society) and serves as a mentor to law students at the University of Auckland Law School.^[4][7]

In October 2021 she was appointed Children's Commissioner for New Zealand.^[2] Eivers served in that role until the Children's Commissioner was replaced by the Children and Young People's Commission in July 2023. She subsequently served as the first Chief Children's Commissioner in the Commission until 31 October 2023.^[8][9]

References

1. "Administering justice through a cultural lens | The District Court of New Zealand". District Court of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
2. "Judge Frances Eivers appointed as new Children's Commissioner". Stuff. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
3. "First laws: tikanga Māori in / and the law". Māori Law Review. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
4. "District Court Judge appointed". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
5. "Frances Eivers made a District Court judge". Stuff. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
6. "Rangatahi Courts of Aotearoa New Zealand – an update – Māori Law Review". Retrieved 14 October 2021.
7. "Finding inspiration from industry insights". University of Auckland. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
8. "Government strengthens advocacy for all children with new Commission". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
9. "Children's Commissioner no more as new oversight Children and Young People's Commission launches". The New Zealand Herald. 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.