Robert Smellie (judge)
Robert Smellie | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 1985–1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Philip Smellie 30 August 1930 Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Died | 23 December 2025 (aged 95) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Spouse |
Lyndsay Ann Craig
(m. 1959; died 2008) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
| Occupation |
|
Robert Philip Smellie CNZM KC (20 August 1930 – 23 December 2025) was a New Zealand lawyer and judge. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1979, and served as a High Court judge from 1985 until 1998.
Early life and family
Smellie was born in Dunedin on 20 August 1930, the son of Winifred Lilian and Peter Orr Smellie.[1][2] He was educated at Otago Boys’ High School, and went on to study at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1958.[1][3]
In 1959, Smellie married Lyndsay Ann Craig, and the couple had three children.[1]
Legal career
Smellie began his legal career with Grierson, Jackson and Partners (later Simpson Grierson).[4] He was appointed Queen's Counsel on 20 August 1979.[5] Between 1982 and 1985, he served as chair of the Equal Opportunities Tribunal.[1] He was appointed to the High Court bench on 18 December 1985.[4][6]
After retiring from full-time judicial work in 1998, Smellie continued to serve as an acting High Court judge until 2002.[7] He then served as a judge of the Fiji Court of Appeal until 2007.[4]
Honours and awards
In 1990, Smellie was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[1] On 9 August 1998, he was granted retention of the title The Honourable for life, in recognition of this services as a judge of the High Court.[8] He was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services as a judge of the High Court.[9]
Death
Smellie died on 23 December 2025 at the age of 95.[10] He had been predeceased by his wife, Lyndsay Smellie, in 2008.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 341. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "Birth search: registration number 1930/16241". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Sl–Sz". Shadows of Time. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ a b c "Chief Justice leads tributes to Robert Smellie after death of former High Court judge". The New Zealand Herald. 27 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ^ "Appointment of Queen's Counsel" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. No. 82. 30 August 1979. p. 2574. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Appointment of judge of High Court" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. No. 1. 9 January 1986. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Chief Justice pays tribute to the Hon Robert Smellie CNZM KC" (PDF). Courts of New Zealand. 27 December 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ "Roll of the Honourables". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 11 November 2025. Archived from the original on 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Queens Birthday honours list 2000". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Former high court judge who oversaw NZ's longest trial dies aged 95". Stuff. 27 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ^ "Lyndsay Ann Smellie". Purewa. Retrieved 1 February 2026.