Sir Gaven Donne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1stQueen's Representative to the Cook Islands | |
| In office 1982 – 18 September 1984 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Tom Davis Geoffrey Henry |
| Preceded by | Office Established |
| Succeeded by | Sir Graham Speight (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gaven John Donne (1914-05-08)8 May 1914 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Died | 28 March 2010(2010-03-28) (aged 95) |
Sir Gaven John DonneKBE (8 May 1914 – 28 March 2010) was a New Zealand-born formerChief Justice ofSamoa,Niue, theCook Islands,Nauru andTuvalu.
Donne was born inChristchurch and educated atPalmerston North Boys' High School,Hastings Boys' High School,Victoria University College andAuckland University College.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1938, and became a magistrate in 1958.[1]
Donne had a long legal career in the Pacific. In 1969 he was seconded to the Supreme Court of Samoa, and in 1972 he was appointedChief Justice. In 1975 he was appointedChief Justice of the Cook Islands andNiue.[2] In 1978, he presided over the electoral petitions resulting from the1978 Cook Islands election, which saw theCook Islands Party ofAlbert Henry removed from power for electoral fraud.[3]
In 1982 he was appointed as the firstQueen's Representative to the Cook Islands.[2] After completing his term, he becameChief Justice of Nauru andTuvalu in 1985.[2]
Donne retired from the bench in 2001 making him one of the longest serving judges in the Southern Hemisphere.[4]
In 1977, Donne was awarded theQueen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.[5] In the1979 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of theOrder of the British Empire.[6]
| Court offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title | Chief Justice of Niue 1975–1982 | Succeeded by |
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Acting officeholders shown initalics. | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
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