Tuesday, 27 November 2001 Media Statement

President of the Electoral Commission appointed

Associate Minister of Justice Margaret Wilson has announced the appointment of Hon Justice Ellis as the new President of the Electoral Commission. The previous President, Hon Justice Ronald Young resigned in July following his appointment to the High Court bench.

Justice Ellis graduated from Victoria University in 1959 and was at one time a partner in the Wellington legal firm Brandons. He practised as a barrister from 1979 and became a Queen’s Counsel in 1981. In 1985 he was appointed to the High Court Bench and has had a distinguished career presiding over a wide range of trials.

He has previously served as the President of the Wellington District Law Society and Vice President of the New Zealand Law Society. He is a former member of the Legal Aid Board and the Legal Aid Appeal Authority as well as the Medical Council.

Justice Ellis's appointment is effective immediately.

The Electoral Commission is an independent statutory agency responsible for:
- registering political parties and party logos
- receiving registered parties' annual returns of donations and election expenses
- allocating election broadcasting time and funds to eligible political parties
- conducting public education about electoral matters.

ENDS

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