In this ever changing and challenging world we are constantly faced with new experiences – good and bad – and as JPs we must each decide for ourselves how to react to each issue.

Anniversaries can be interesting occasions – joyous or sad, celebratory or a time of reminiscence. As I write this we are just a day away from the anniversary of the tragic events in Christchurch and the senseless killing of 51 innocent people plus the wounding and maiming for life of many others.

The service of remembrance to honour those who died and support the survivors, has just been cancelled because of the Covid 19 Corona Virus. This is a public safety issue where it’s better to be “safe than sorry” and follows a growing number of public events being postponed or cancelled around New Zealand and indeed the world.

In this ever changing and challenging world we are constantly faced with new experiences – good and bad – and as JPs we must each decide for ourselves how to react to each issue. Do we stop people from calling at our homes, or do we stop serving on a service desk because we don’t know the risks of catching something? Or do we “keep calm and carry on” - always making sure to follow the best advice and take all sensible precautions.

Only you can decide – but in spite of the cancellation of the memorial service – let’s remember our neighbours, friends and JP clients who were affected in so many ways by the events of 12 months ago and continue to focus on all the good things that bind us together rather than any perceived differences.

New Justices
On the 23rd January 2020 the following Justices were sworn in:- Vivian Booth, Jarrod Coburn, Diana Hinterleitner, Simon McDermott, Pavittar Notay, Rup Prakash, Jacquline Simons, Jagmeet Singh, and Vicki Tahau Paton. Unable to be present again was Lynley Sutherland and she will be sworn in along with 4 more new appointees hopefully in April.

Suzy Mitchell has transferred out to the Auckland Association and we thank her for her service in Canterbury.  We warmly welcome Maree Welgus from the Rotorua and Districts JPs Association and also David Williams from the North Otago JPs Association.

Please make them feel at home among us.

Retirements
These Justices have recently retired from active service as Justices of the Peace - Rita Townshend (21), Elizabeth Cunningham (29), Graham McCulloch (25), Judith Smyth (36), Duncan Taylor (18), and Caroline Jeffered (26).  

Together they have completed 155 years of service to their communities. This is a wonderful achievement and we thank them sincerely for their dedication to the role of Justice of the Peace.

All have applied for JP (Retired) status and I look forward to presenting them with their JP (Retired) certificates and badges in the near future. Graham McCulloch has chosen to stay on as a retired member of CJPA.   

Obituaries
Ralph Ross, JP (Retired) died on the 22nd January 2020 having retired in October last year after 21 years service.

Douglas Couch, JP died on the 27th January 2020 after 15 years service.

Mervyn Cooper, JP died on the 10th March after 31 years service. 

We acknowledge their valuable contribution to both the Association and their communities, and extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families.

Long Service Certificates for 2020
The Ministry of Justice have recently released the 30, 40, 50 and 60 years Long Service Certificates for the whole of 2020. These will be presented as close as possible to the anniversary of the JPs appointment and will be acknowledged in newsletters throughout the year. The first certificate for 30 years’ service was presented to Lois Eagle, JP on the 14th March. Lois has indicated that she will retire from active service on the anniversary of her appointment in early April.  We thank Lois for her commitment and dedication to her role as a Justice of the Peace.

I am privileged to personally present certificates and badges to some recently retired JPs including Nigel Johnstone, June Russell, Mary Berge and Antonia Hill, along with 40 Year Long Service Certificates to Jennifer Inwood and Jan Shuttleworth both on Banks Peninsula.

The new 20 year CJPA certificates continue to be presented at education and training sessions and later this year the 10 year certificates will be available. These presentations give me an opportunity to say “thank-you” to the JPs and also to their families who support them as they tirelessly serve their communities. Please check out the photos on the CJPA website.

Royal Federation Conference Hawera 2020
It was a privilege for me to be part of the delegation of six Councillors who represented the Canterbury JPs Association
at this years conference in Hawera. A full report covering speakers, workshops and the AGM is available separately in this newsletter.  I urge you to read it and if you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to ask me (or any of the delegates).

We were generously supported by funding to attend the conference from the Air Services Rescue Trust and we owe them a very big thank you for their ongoing support. The ASR Trust has provided financial support for several years and this has allowed us to send delegates to conferences wherever they have been held in New Zealand.

Another big thank you is due to the Rata Foundation who has again granted us funding to help cover administration expenses. Their ongoing support is also appreciated.

2019/2020 Subscriptions
A very big thank you to all those members who have paid your subscriptions for the year and a gentle nudge to those who have not yet paid. Garth Dale, the Treasurer, has sent reminders to everyone and the next step for unpaid subs will be a letter from me – followed by a phone call (or 2). Please make my life a little easier by paying now and saving me a letter – I’m always happy to talk to you but I really don’t want to have to ask you for money!

Pastoral Care
You can all play a part by letting me or any Councillor know of members who need assistance or who have health issues that may affect their performance as JPs.

I have made visits and phone calls to several members and offered advice and assistance where possible. We all need to be good neighbours and colleagues to our fellow JPs.

Thank you all for your ongoing support of myself, the Council and the CJPA.

Ken Shields, JP
Registrar