Rt Hon Sir Ivor Lloyd Morgan Richardson PCNZM, Kt: 24 May 1930-29 December 2014.

• Author: Kennedy, Peter
• Position: OBITUARY - Obituary

Chief Justice Sian Elias described Sir Ivor Richardson, who passed away last month, as having had an unparalleled influence on New Zealand law during his long tenure as a judge, law teacher, and adviser'. During his long and distinguished legal career, Sir Ivor had a close association with Victoria University of Wellington, where he was appointed a professor of law in 1967 and where, later in life, he was chancellor. He built his formidable legal reputation initially in private practice and the Crown Law Office, but it was his appointment to the Court of Appeal where he made his lasting contribution. He had been appointed a Supreme Court (now High Court) judge in Auckland in 1977 but was almost immediately elevated to the Court of Appeal, where he served from 1978 to 2002. At his memorial service in January, it was noted that he was the longest serving judge of the Court of Appeal ever. Previously Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson commented that 'Sir Ivor Richardson was unfailingly courteous and pleasant to appear before. But if you weren't on top of your material, his questions would destroy your case very quickly.'

Richardson was born in Asburton and suffered considerable tragedy in early life, losing both his father and mother to illness and accident before he was out of his teens. His academic adviser at Timaru Boy's High School suggested he go into teaching, but a relative fortunately steered him towards law. He won the Canterbury District Law Society's Gold Medal for the best law student at Canterbury University before achieving his masters and doctorate on a full scholarship at the University...