Most JPs interact with people of different cultures, ethnicity and religions all the time and many of you will have been affected either directly or indirectly by this terrible event.....

On Friday the 15th my lovely Muslim neighbour was at prayer in the Mosque in Deans Avenue when the shooting started.  He escaped through a window as a bullet grazed the side of his head and got home to his family traumatised but alive.  

Later he told me he wanted to stay and help those injured at the Mosque but he needed to get home to his family. He has a devoted wife and three school age children – including one who is severely handicapped. The thought of them being fatherless was more than he could bear.

I shed tears of anger and frustration on Friday at such a senseless act of violence. On Saturday my family gathered cooking and grocery vouchers which I delivered to my neighbours’ family.  We shed tears of sorrow for the widows and orphaned children.

On Sunday at church we lit candles and said prayers for the victims, their families and the whole Muslim community.   We were also reminded that Christian and Muslim together worship the same God and are the same descendants – we are all “children of Abraham” no matter how we choose to worship.  This senseless act of violence has nothing to do with religion, beliefs or God however others may describe it - to me it is just evil, pure and simple.

Most JPs interact with people of different cultures, ethnicity and religions all the time and many of you will have been affected either directly or indirectly by this terrible event - if you need support or help in any way please contact me or any Association Council members.

New Justices

The year has started with the Ministry of Justice “playing catch up” with appointments and there are 19 new Justices waiting to be sworn in.   Twelve JPs are expected to be sworn in on the 5th April and the remaining JPs in June or July.   The Association welcomes them to the group.  Those appointed are: 

September 2018  Jeanette Barson, Sharadha Nand

December 2018  Thomas Boyce, Rachael Fonotia, Melissa Jebson, Parminder Kaur, Glenda Martin, Paul Martin, Suzanne Mitchell, Shellyn Palmer

March 2019 Helen Castelow, Frank Dowle, Roderick Ell, David Elms, Viki Forscutt, Tarisayi Madry, Geoffrey Shier, John Skipper,  Kenneth Sowden

There has been extreme pressure on the new Christchurch Court Precinct and in November 2018 –just 1 year after it was opened – it had reached or exceeded its planned capacity so there has to be limits on the number that can be sworn in at any one time. Hopefully we will be able to arrange future swearing-in ceremonies within a shorter time frame.

New Members and Transfers

The nineteen newly appointed JPs listed above will be CJPA members at their swearing-in ceremony.   We farewell Susan Kobar who has transferred out to the Wellington Association and thank Susan for her service in the Canterbury region and wish her well as she moves north to Raumati South.

Retirements

The following JPs have recently retired and also some retirees from last year have been granted JP (Retired) status. They are (with years of service):

• Robert Adams (29)
• Kenneth Austin (19)
• Sandra Bragg (26) 
• Richard Boulton (21)
• Robert Curd (11)
• Peter Berry (17) 
• Maria Evans (20) 
• Mary Holmes (39)
• Judith Laidlaw (34)
• John Macdonald (40) 
• Loretta Rhodes (17) 
• Ashley Weir (31)
• Ian Hoskin (30)

 A grand combined total years of service of 334 Years!! We thank each and every one of them for their dedication and also thank their families for the support they provided during their many years of service.

Obituaries

John Willis, JP (Retired) died on the 22nd December 2018, having served as a JP for almost 17 years

John Burke QSM, JP died 9th February 2019 after 38 years as a JP

Neil Chalklen QSM, JP died 13th March 2019 after 33 years of JP service

We express our sympathies and condolences to all their families. To all CJPA members who have experienced loss during the past few months – please accept our deepest sympathy.

Long Service Certificates

There are still 5 Long Service Certificates to be presented and it had been planned to do this at training on the 16th March. Hopefully these JPs will receive their certificates at the next opportunity which will be at the evening session on Wednesday the 3rd April, at the Methodist church complex in Papanui.

Unusual Requests for a Justice of the Peace

On the 30th January 2019 I received a request under Section 162 of the Corrections Act 2004 to arrange for a JP to visit Christchurch Women’s Prison.    This is something that does not appear in the Justices of the Peace Act 1957 or the Ministerial Manual but it is listed in the Corrections Act; for more information read the attached article in this newsletter.  Another seldom received request – rare but welcome – is to conduct another Private Citizenship Ceremony.  I’m looking forward to taking part in welcoming another migrant as she becomes a “kiwi”.

Finally, as we approach Easter and Anzac Day we are again reminded of the true meaning of love and sacrifice. Let us all learn to love our neighbours more - whoever they may be.

Ken Shields, JP

Registrar

Phone (03) 3371 025, Mobile 021 363 082 or Email: registrar@jpcanterbury.org.nz