Strictly Obiter
@strictlyobiter.bsky.social
Going on a frolic of his own. Distinguished Fellow at the Robert Muldoon Centre for Constitutional Law.
Please send all complaints
c/- Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann GNZM
Supreme Court of New Zealand
85 Lambton Quay
Wellington
Please send all complaints
c/- Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann GNZM
Supreme Court of New Zealand
85 Lambton Quay
Wellington
Some good gets for Glazebrook J's valedictory sitting.
February 18, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Some good gets for Glazebrook J's valedictory sitting.
February 17, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Just you wait until we have a right to undressed windows.
Also, 🙄 (for numerous reasons, including "BORA VET"...).
www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Docum...
www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Docum...
February 17, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Just you wait until we have a right to undressed windows.
If someone tells you it's raining and another tells you it's dry, it's not your job to quote them both. It's your job to look out the window and see if Christopher Luxon is holding an umbrella.
February 16, 2026 at 3:33 AM
If someone tells you it's raining and another tells you it's dry, it's not your job to quote them both. It's your job to look out the window and see if Christopher Luxon is holding an umbrella.
I've come to the point one reaches in every bit of advice - having to account for the one outlier Duffy J decision from the mid-2010s.
February 16, 2026 at 12:49 AM
I've come to the point one reaches in every bit of advice - having to account for the one outlier Duffy J decision from the mid-2010s.
Me drafting the pro forma notice of appeal: “I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future.”
“There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!”
February 13, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Me drafting the pro forma notice of appeal: “I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future.”
"Who's a good boy?"
"I'm going to need you to stop asking. That's operationally sensitive and the dog hasn't waived his anonymity."
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nzsas-inq...
"I'm going to need you to stop asking. That's operationally sensitive and the dog hasn't waived his anonymity."
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nzsas-inq...
February 12, 2026 at 8:08 AM
"Who's a good boy?"
"I'm going to need you to stop asking. That's operationally sensitive and the dog hasn't waived his anonymity."
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nzsas-inq...
"I'm going to need you to stop asking. That's operationally sensitive and the dog hasn't waived his anonymity."
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nzsas-inq...
Our society will not be safe until we close the Northern Club.
February 12, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Our society will not be safe until we close the Northern Club.
The extremely-Wellington special counsel to the Judicial Conduct Panel keep going to what is hands-down the worst cafe in the vicinity of the court, but no one is telling them.
February 11, 2026 at 11:46 PM
The extremely-Wellington special counsel to the Judicial Conduct Panel keep going to what is hands-down the worst cafe in the vicinity of the court, but no one is telling them.
“Counsel, what is this Northern Club you speak of?”
February 9, 2026 at 6:02 AM
“Counsel, what is this Northern Club you speak of?”
This column is hiding the point it wants to make. We haven’t had a head of bench at DC, HC or CA level in station for longer than six-ish years in the last 25. It’s really a column against limits for CJ.
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/why...
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/why...
Deborah Chambers: Why we need term limits on our most powerful judges
OPINION: New Zealand's Chief Justice can currently lead the courts for up to 20 years.
www.nzherald.co.nz
February 8, 2026 at 5:59 AM
This column is hiding the point it wants to make. We haven’t had a head of bench at DC, HC or CA level in station for longer than six-ish years in the last 25. It’s really a column against limits for CJ.
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/why...
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/why...
Reposted by Strictly Obiter
What is te reo for 'Where do you usually go?'
February 5, 2026 at 2:36 AM
What is te reo for 'Where do you usually go?'
Constitutional dialogue except it's the Court of Appeal menacing medical regulators who aren't parties about hypothetical future actions because that's what the rule of law requires apparently.
www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases...
www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases...
February 5, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Constitutional dialogue except it's the Court of Appeal menacing medical regulators who aren't parties about hypothetical future actions because that's what the rule of law requires apparently.
www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases...
www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases...
Most people don't know that the promissory note was invented in 1736 by John Promiss, a Bristolian merchant and qualified solicitor.
January 31, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Most people don't know that the promissory note was invented in 1736 by John Promiss, a Bristolian merchant and qualified solicitor.
Re: signing under a Cloud - the law of electronic signatures.
January 30, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Re: signing under a Cloud - the law of electronic signatures.
Before writing anything, first check to see whether someone else has had the same idea.
January 29, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Before writing anything, first check to see whether someone else has had the same idea.
I’m part of a team of lawyers putting together some urgent subs which is stressful but fun. My role is mainly to remember old Hammond J zingers that are directly on point.
January 29, 2026 at 8:10 AM
I’m part of a team of lawyers putting together some urgent subs which is stressful but fun. My role is mainly to remember old Hammond J zingers that are directly on point.
As Speaker, this chap did daily videos to camera reading out what the business of the House would be that day. I used to watch them on my lunch break because I found them very calming and they helped with anxiety. I thought he was great!
Former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe delivers his valedictory speech
Former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe delivers his valedictory speech
Speaking off-the-cuff, Rurawhe says one of his biggest honours was to serve as Speaker.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 28, 2026 at 7:07 AM
As Speaker, this chap did daily videos to camera reading out what the business of the House would be that day. I used to watch them on my lunch break because I found them very calming and they helped with anxiety. I thought he was great!
This is a lack of imagination. When Sir Alexander Herdman retired as AG he appointed himself a Supreme Court judge.
National's Judith Collins retires from politics, appointed Law Commission president
National's Judith Collins retires from politics, appointed Law Commission president
First elected in 2002, Collins is one of the most experienced politicians in the government, and is now taking up the role of President of the Law Commission.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 27, 2026 at 11:35 PM
This is a lack of imagination. When Sir Alexander Herdman retired as AG he appointed himself a Supreme Court judge.
Will I understand Marty Supreme if I haven’t seen Marty High and Marty Appeal?
January 23, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Will I understand Marty Supreme if I haven’t seen Marty High and Marty Appeal?
Can't believe Dean Knight cyberbullied the Prime Minister into announcing the election date.
January 21, 2026 at 4:01 AM
Can't believe Dean Knight cyberbullied the Prime Minister into announcing the election date.
Asking for your land to be treated like Māori land when you live in Taranaki is certainly something.
January 19, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Asking for your land to be treated like Māori land when you live in Taranaki is certainly something.
House meeting.
January 17, 2026 at 5:56 AM
House meeting.
In the New Zealand justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and for some reason employees of private law firms who prosecute the offenders but aren't subject to the Official Information Act. These are their stories.
January 15, 2026 at 11:37 PM
In the New Zealand justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and for some reason employees of private law firms who prosecute the offenders but aren't subject to the Official Information Act. These are their stories.
Reposted by Strictly Obiter
First day back & I'm casting through the past year's judicial review cases to see if there's anything interesting that's passed me by, in preparation for my presentation at the NZCPL Govt Law Year in Review seminar on 18 Feb.
Do consider coming, NZ govt nerds. Online attendance *is* an option!
Do consider coming, NZ govt nerds. Online attendance *is* an option!
2026 Government Law: Year in Review | Te Wānanga o Ngā Kaupapa Ture ā Iwi o Aotearoa / New Zealand Centre for Public Law | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
www.wgtn.ac.nz
January 12, 2026 at 1:00 AM
First day back & I'm casting through the past year's judicial review cases to see if there's anything interesting that's passed me by, in preparation for my presentation at the NZCPL Govt Law Year in Review seminar on 18 Feb.
Do consider coming, NZ govt nerds. Online attendance *is* an option!
Do consider coming, NZ govt nerds. Online attendance *is* an option!