Mark O'Regan

The Honourable Sir Mark O'Regan KNZM
O'Regan in 2013
Justice of the Supreme Court
In office 1 September 2014 – 30 November 2023
Succeeded by	Forrest Miller
President of the Court of Appeal
In office 2010–2014
Preceded by	Sir William Young
Succeeded by	Dame Ellen France
Personal details
Born	Mark Andrew O'Regan (1953-11-30) 30 November 1953 (age 71)
Spouse	Nicola Saker
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington

Sir Mark Andrew O'Regan KNZM (born 30 November 1953) is a New Zealand lawyer and jurist. He was the President of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand until his elevation to the Supreme Court of New Zealand in 2014.

Biography

Born on 30 November 1953[1] and educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, O'Regan graduated from Victoria University of Wellington.[2] He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court in 1977 and became a partner with the law firm Chapman Tripp in 1984. As a lawyer, he was known particularly for his expertise in relation to commercial law.[3] He co-authored the New Zealand Law Commission paper which led to the eventual adoption of a register for personal property securities in New Zealand.

O'Regan was appointed to the High Court in 2001 and to the Court of Appeal in January 2004.[2] He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2014.[4]

In the 2013 New Year Honours, O'Regan was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the judiciary.[5][6]

O'Regan is married to the writer Nicola Saker, who in the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to heritage preservation and the arts.[7]

On 2 November 2023, shortly before reaching the mandatory age of retirement, O'Regan was granted retention of the title The Honourable for life, in recognition of his service as a judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court.[8]

References

1. "O'Regan, Hon. Sir Mark (Andrew)". Who's Who 2023 and Who Was Who. 1 December 2022. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U269634.
2. Chris Finlayson (9 June 2010). "New Supreme Court judge and Court of Appeal President announced". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
3. "Kiwis First - Mark O'Regan".
4. "New Supreme Court and Court of Appeal appointments announced". NZ Lawyer. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
5. "New Year Honours 2013" (29 January 2013) 8 The New Zealand Gazette 293.
6. "New Year honours list 2013". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
7. "The King's Birthday and Coronation honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
8. "Retention of the title "The Honourable"". New Zealand Gazette. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.