Hon David Parker

Attorney-General

19 February 2018

MEDIA STATEMENT

Appointment of Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces announced

Attorney-General David Parker has today announced the appointment of District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces.

The Deputy Judge Advocate General is delegated powers by the Judge Advocate General to be responsible for ensuring the proper administration of armed forces law. Those responsibilities include investigating complaints by the members of the armed forces, appointing judge advocates to sit in courts-martial, and considering and reporting on the proceedings of courts-martial.

Judge Taumaunu was admitted to the Bar in 1993 and practised criminal and Family Law in Gisborne until appointed a District Court Judge in 2004. He currently sits in Auckland District Court and was instrumental in the development of Rangatahi Courts for young Maori offenders.

Prior to Judge Taumaunu entering the legal profession he was a Regular Force Cadet. He served as a soldier and later a non-commissioned officer in the Royal NZ Signals Corp. He has been a Judge of the Court Martial since 2012.

Judge Taumaunu is of Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu descent.

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