A very warm welcome is extended to Nick who, following a very successful opening partnership of 25 between John Mitchell and Sir John Hansen, arrives at the middle, batting at number 3. This is a position which is considered by all cricketers to be testing and crucial!
Nick was educated at St Andrew’s College Christchurch, where he was a boarder and displayed his strong Scottish heritage by playing as a drummer in the school pipe band. Schooling was followed by Canterbury University where he graduated LLB (Hons).
He opened the bowling for the First XI and later for the University team, for West University, BWU, Old Collegians, Valley of Peace, London New Zealand, and the vaunted Long Hops.
Following university, Nick worked for Duncan Cotterill then moved to RA Young Hunter where he developed an extensive litigation practice including professional indemnity, estate litigation, resource management and criminal law. He was a prosecutor for the Serious Fraud Office.
In 1988 he went to the Independent Bar. In 1996 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel and in 2015 was appointed Christchurch’s 5th resident High Court Judge, now retired.
On the international scene Nick has considerable experience. He is greatly respected for his professional skills and after representing the SFO at the Wine Box Inquiry in New Zealand, he played a significant role in the investigation of corruption in cricket, and within the world football body FIFA.
His involvement in sport is extensive. He was appointed a founding Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Sports Disputes Tribunal in 2003, National Commissioner for New Zealand Cricket, President of New Zealand Football and a member of the disciplinary structures within the SANZAR the IRB and FIFA where he was on the Investigatory Chamber at the time of tumultuous change arising from the awarding of World Cup hosting rights to Qatar and Russia.
After retirement from the Bench, Nick is involved as an arbitrator (Fellow of the Arbitrators’ Institute), mediator, Deputy Chair New Zealand Sports Tribunal, and other tribunals, and in charitable work.
Youth development, and support for under- privileged youth is influential in Nick’s daily life and he spends time in several areas helping those in need. The influence of working with and seeing those who suffer great disadvantage and unfairness was sheeted home to him on the Bench and working with Pike River families.
With Nick, we extend a very warm welcome to his wife Rosie who has had a successful international food business.
Nick, we wish you well as our new President and convey to you our utmost support at all times as we play in the V.