Principal Environment Court Judge Richard John Bollard
20 April 1940 – 28 April 2009
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A tribute from Brookfields Lawyers for NZ Lawyer magazine
Judge Bollard died at his home in Auckland on Tuesday 28 April 2009.
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A respected member of the legal profession for more than 45 years, John joined the firm of Brookfield Prendergast Schnauer & Smytheman (now Brookfields) in the mid-1960s. He took over the practice of Professor F M Brookfield who, shortly after John's arrival, left the firm to pursue a purely academic career. When his fellow partner David Sheppard became a judge of the Planning Tribunal in 1980, John stepped into David's role within the firm and became a specialist environmental and local government practitioner. His principal client was the Manukau City Council for which he was the City Solicitor from 1980 until 1988. John quickly made his mark in the planning and local government area and was appointed a Judge of the Environment Court in 1988; then in April 2003 he was elevated to Principal Judge of that court.
John had all the attributes of a successful lawyer. He was academic and very orderly in terms of his approach to solving problems. He was determined and tenacious. John was an exceptionally good administrator of work, particularly that which flowed from the Manukau City Council. At a personal level, he was very friendly, easy going and approachable, and acted the same toward everybody he encountered. He inspired immense loyalty in those who worked with him and maintained close contact with the people with whom he worked at Brookfields up until the day of his death.
Aside from his love for the law, John was an accomplished pianist with a great interest in music. He also loved a good game of tennis and badminton. He had a long association with the College Rifles Rugby Union and Sports Club serving as its honorary solicitor for many years.
John was a devoted family man - he is survived by his wife Shirley, their children Catherine and Graham, son-in-law and daughter-in-law Paul and Fiona, and grandchildren Diana and Isabel.
Judge Bollard will be remembered by many of the partners and staff at Brookfields as a great contributor to and member of the legal profession as well as a wonderful colleague and employer. As a member of the judiciary, he agonised over balancing everyone's rights and would ensure all affected parties were given every opportunity to be heard. Those of us who have stood before him in his judicial capacity will always remember him for his astuteness of mind, thoroughness, and his true sense of justice – and his fountain pen, with which he signed off on many notable cases, among them, refusing consent to the siting of the Sky Tower in Grafton, iwi issues from Northland to the Bay of Plenty, coastal erosion at Papamoa, Tauranga's urban limits and approving night games at Eden Park.
Our condolences are extended to Shirley, Cath, Graham and family.
The Environment Court has announced Judge Bollards' replacement as Principal Environment Judge. It is now Judge Craig Thompson. |
