Former Speaker of the House of Representatives / Te Mana Whakawā o te Whare, Ross Robertson, now President of the Franklin Justices of the Peace Association with Gerard Winter receiving koha of a Paipera Tapu one of 843 especially printed and sent as a treasure to every Marae by new Justice of the Peace Grace Maraea van den Brink
In another sign of Covid catch-up, a much-delayed ceremony took place in the Pukekohe Court where friends and whanau gathered last Tuesday to support 8 candidates at their swearing in as Justices of the Peace.
Reflecting on the Anglo-Saxon history of JPs, resident Judge Gerard Winter remarked, “Edward III required you to keep the peace. But that is not all you have done. Nor is it all that you do. Over time you gained responsibility for county administration, for highway maintenance, licensing public houses, and for making provision for orphans and the poor. The exact contours of your role have been refined over the centuries, but a constant has been your responsibility for maintaining law and order.”
The 8 will provide much needed service throughout the Franklin District.