Sian Elias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Right Honourable Dame
Sian Elias
GNZM KC
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| 12th Chief Justice of New Zealand | |
| In office 17 May 1999 – 13 March 2019 |
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| Nominated by | Jenny Shipley |
| Appointed by | Sir Michael Hardie Boys |
| Preceded by | Thomas Eichelbaum |
| Succeeded by | Helen Winkelmann |
| Administrator of the Government (Acting Governor-General) |
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| In office 31 August 2016 – 28 September 2016 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| In office 23 August 2011 – 31 August 2011 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| In office 4 August 2006 – 23 August 2006 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| In office 22 March 2001 – 4 April 2001 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sian Seerpoohi Elias
13 March 1949 London, England |
| Spouse | Hugh Fletcher |
| Children | Two |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland Stanford Law School |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Awards | New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal |
Dame Sian Seerpoohi Elias (born 13 March 1949) was a very important judge in New Zealand. She served as the 12th Chief Justice of New Zealand, which means she was the most senior judge in the country. She led the Supreme Court of New Zealand and sometimes acted as the Administrator of the Government, stepping in for the Governor-General.
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Who is Dame Sian Elias?
Dame Sian Elias was the first woman to become the Chief Justice of New Zealand. This is the highest judicial role in the country. She was responsible for leading the courts and ensuring justice was served. Her career was marked by many important cases and a strong focus on fairness.
Her Early Life and Education
Sian Elias was born in London, England, on 13 March 1949. Her father was from Armenia, and her mother was Welsh. She moved to New Zealand in 1952 when she was three years old. She attended Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland.
After school, she studied law at the University of Auckland, finishing her degree in 1970. She then continued her studies at Stanford University in the United States.
Starting Her Legal Career
In 1972, Sian Elias began working at a law firm in Auckland. Three years later, she became a barrister. A barrister is a type of lawyer who specializes in arguing cases in court. She also worked on groups that looked at rules for things like fuel sales and environmental protection.
In 1984, she became a Law Commissioner. This role involves helping to improve and update New Zealand's laws. She was also known for her work on cases related to the Treaty of Waitangi, which is a very important agreement in New Zealand's history.
In 1990, she received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal for her valuable work. In 1988, she and another lawyer, Lowell Goddard, became the first women in New Zealand to be named Queen's Counsel. This is a special title given to very experienced and respected barristers. In 1995, she became a judge in the High Court of New Zealand and sometimes worked in the New Zealand Court of Appeal.
Becoming New Zealand's Top Judge
On 17 May 1999, Sian Elias made history when she was sworn in as the Chief Justice of New Zealand. She was the first woman ever to hold this very important position. Later that year, she was given the title of Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This is a high honour that recognizes her outstanding service to the country.
Acting as Government Leader
One of the special duties of the Chief Justice is to act as the Administrator of the Government. This happens when the Governor-General (who represents the King or Queen in New Zealand) is unable to do their job. This might be because they are sick, out of the country, or if there is no Governor-General appointed yet.
Dame Sian Elias stepped into this role several times. For example, she was the Administrator of the Government from 22 March 2001 to 4 April 2001. She also served in this role in 2006, 2011, and 2016, whenever the Governor-General was unavailable.
Supporting Māori Rights
Dame Sian Elias played a key role in cases related to the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1984, she helped with a claim about the Manukau Harbour for Ngāneko Minhinnick and the Waitangi Tribunal. This led to her working on other important Treaty cases.
She was involved in a major case in 2003. This case looked at whether the Māori Land Court could give Māori groups ownership of the foreshore and seabed (the land along the coast). This decision caused a lot of discussion and changes in New Zealand's political landscape for about 18 months.
Her Views on Justice
In 2009, Dame Sian Elias gave a speech called "Blameless Babes." In this speech, she talked about her concerns regarding the number of people in prison. She believed that politicians sometimes reacted too quickly to crime with harsh punishments.
She argued that it was important to understand why people commit crimes. She felt that simply building more prisons was not the answer. Instead, she suggested that New Zealand needed to address the root causes of crime. Her comments were widely discussed in the media.
