Consider nominating someone for RMLA’s highest honour

The Principal Judge R J Bollard Lifetime Commemorative Award is RMLA’s highest honour, reserved for exceptional individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to resource management in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Unlike some of our other award categories, this award is not necessarily presented every year. It recognises sustained service, leadership and impact over the course of a lifetime or career — contribution that has helped shape the theory, practice or standing of resource management in New Zealand.

Nominees may have contributed through government, the judiciary, industry, private practice, tangata whenua, academia, the public sector, or another area of resource management practice. They may still be practising or recently retired.

Judge Laurie Newhook, a previous recipient of the award, recently shared his reflections with us, encouraging members to consider nominating potential recipients for this special award.

In 2021, the year after retiring as Chief Environment Court Judge, Judge Newhook was awarded RMLA’s prestigious Principal Judge R J Bollard Lifetime Commemorative Award. The award was expressed to recognise a lifetime of service and contribution to the advancement of resource management and environmental law in New Zealand, and to securing the place of the Environment Court within the New Zealand judicial system.

To say the Judge was “blown away” by the award would be an understatement, and it certainly caused him to reflect as he entered the next chapter of his life.

The phrase “securing the place of the Environment Court in the New Zealand judicial system” illustrates, in his view, the high nature of the award. He did, in fact, stare down a sustained attempt by the Executive to disestablish the Court and have its work spread throughout the generalist District Court, whose judges essentially have little or no time allocated for deliberations and decision-writing in their busy world, principally focused on crime, and whose work bears precious little resemblance to the specialist work of the Environment Court, both substantively and procedurally.

He also placed great emphasis on raising the mana of the Court in New Zealand society and among judiciaries internationally.

He might sum up by expressing the view that endeavours considerably above the call of duty and professional success were the philosophy of those who created the award. Biased he may be, but he would strongly encourage members to identify and nominate suitable recipients in the future.

With that spirit in mind, we encourage members to consider whether there is someone in their professional networks whose contribution may warrant nomination.

If someone comes to mind, we encourage you to consider putting their name forward.

Find out more about nominating here or contact us with any other queries.