Māori Land Court Chief Judge Caren Fox has been appointed to chair the Waitangi Tribunal for five years. Photo: Screenshot / Te Karere / Fair use
Māori Land Court Chief Judge Caren Fox will now become chair of the Waitangi Tribunal, appointed to the role by the Governor-General.
Chief Judge Fox will be the first wahine appointed to chair the Tribunal, and will hold the position for five years.
She was appointed as Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court less than two months ago, in July, having acted in the role since April.
She was the first wahine in that position too, and the first wahine Māori appointed to the Māori Land Court when she first joined in 2000. She became Deputy Chief Judge in 2010.
Associate Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced her new appointment as chair of the Waitangi Tribunal in a statement on Friday morning, saying it came "after two decades of [Chief Judge Fox] presiding on numerous historical, urgency and kaupapa treaty claims".
"I recently acknowledged Chief Judge Fox for her in depth understanding of the Tiriti o Waitangi, her work in the judicial sector and leadership roles, all of which positions her well to undertake this new role."
Chief Judge Fox takes over as chair after Judge Wilson Isaac retired in April. Judge Sarah Reeves has been acting chair since 1 May.
Mahuta thanked Judges Isaac and Reeves for their service.
The Waitangi Tribunal is a permanent commission of inquiry which makes recommendations on claims brought by Māori relating to legislation, policies, actions or omissions of the Crown that are alleged to breach the promises made in the Treaty of Waitangi.
It was first established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act in 1975 as a way to have Treaty claims about contemporary government action investigated, and in 1985 had its role expanded to include events dating back to 1940.
