Harry Waalkens

Harry Waalkens KC (born 1955)^[1] is a New Zealand lawyer. He was Lord Chancellor of Tonga from 2011 to 2020.

Waalkens was born in Whangārei and educated at Taipuha Primary School and Otamatea High School before attending boarding school in Auckland.^[1] He graduated from the University of Auckland in 1980 with a joint degree in commerce and law,^[1] and then worked as a crown prosecutor in Tonga from 1981 to 1982.^[2] He was a partner in Bell Gully Buddle Weir before entering independent practice in 1994.^[1] In 2004 he was appointed Queen's Counsel in New Zealand.^[3] in 2009 he was appointed King's Counsel in Tonga.^[2]

In 2011 he was appointed to the Privy Council of Tonga as Lord Chancellor.^[4][5] His appointment was initially welcomed by Tonga's democratic movement,^[6] In 2020 he was replaced as Lord Chancellor by Tavake Barron Afeaki.^[7]

Honours

National honours

• Order of the Crown of Tonga, Commander (31 July 2008).^[8]

References

1. "New QC is one of NZ's last". New Zealand Herald. 19 October 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
2. "Harry Waalkens QC". Quay Chambers. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
3. "Queen's Counsel appointed". Government of New Zealand. 29 July 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
4. "Auckland QC becomes Tonga's Lord Chancellor". Stuff. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
5. "Tonga names New Zealand lawyer as Lord Chancellor". RNZ. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
6. "Tonga Opposition welcomes independent appointments to key posts". RNZ. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
7. "King appoints Tavake Barron Afeaki as new Lord Chancellor". Kaniva Tonga. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
8. "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.