Sir Ivor Richardson Lecture

The Sir Ivor Richardson Lecture honours Sir Ivor Richardson who made extraordinary contributions to New Zealand jurisprudence and the teaching of law.

He was a Professor of Law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington from 1967 to 1973, served as Dean of Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture—the Faculty of Law from 1968 to 1971, and was Chancellor of the University from 1984 to 1986.

Sir Ivor was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 1977, and a few months later he was elevated to the Court of Appeal where he sat until his retirement in 2002.

With the support of the Borrin Foundation, the Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Faculty of Law have established the Ivor Richardson Lecture.

Sir Ivor Richardson Lecture 2024

The Sir Ivor Richardson Lecture was delivered by Professor David McLauchlan in 2024, Professor of Law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Professor McLauchlan discussed whether the distinction of private law can survive in New Zealand after the Supreme Court’s decision in Bathurst Resources Ltd v L&M Coal Holdings Ltd [2021] 1 NZLR 696, and whether the departure from the law in other common law countries, notably the United Kingdom and Australia, is to be welcomed.

Past Richardson lectures have been given by:

• 2023: Sarah Grimmer: The Role of Domestic Courts in International Arbitrations.