Judge La-Verne King from Whangārei District Court has been appointed as the next Principal Family Court Judge, the Attorney-General has announced.

Judge King (Ngātikahu ki Whangaroa and Ngāti Pāoa) says she is “humbled and honoured” by her appointment.

“I acknowledge Judge Jacquelyn Moran, who has led the Family Court since 2018 and retires on 27 November,” she says. “Until I take up the role, I will continue my current duties and defer to her on any public comment concerning Family Court matters. I look forward to serving in this new position.”

Judge King was admitted to the Bar in 1989. In 1994, along with (now) Principal Youth Court Judge Ida Malosi and (now) Judge Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae, she established the first Māori and Pasifika women law firm, KAM Legal.  

In 2007, Judge King returned to the Far North and went on to establish Doubtless Bay Law Limited in response to the many and varied legal needs of the local community. She was appointed as Youth Advocate in 1992, Counsel for Child in 1994, District Inspector for Mental Health in 2003 and Visiting Justice in 2009. In 2018, she was appointed a member of the Independent Panel considering the 2014 Family Justice Reforms.   

Judge King was appointed to the District Court bench in 2019 and throughout her judicial career has sat primarily in the Family Court and Youth Court in Te Tai Tokerau. In 2021, she became the Family Court Liaison Judge for the region.