Neil MacLean (coroner)

Allan Neil MacLean QSO (24 November 1944 – 17 November 2022) was a New Zealand District Court judge and that country's first chief coroner, from 2007 to 2015. He was the coroner during the Pike River Mine disaster and the Christchurch earthquakes.

Neil MacLean
QSO
MacLean in 2015
1st Chief Coroner of New Zealand
In office
2007–2015
Succeeded byDeborah Marshall
District Court judge
In office
1993–2014
Personal details
Born
Allan Neil MacLean

(1944-11-24)24 November 1944
Died17 November 2022(2022-11-17) (aged 77)
Spouse
Susan Gordon Eliott
​
(m. 1969)​
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury
Profession
  • Lawyer
  • judge
Known forCoronial inquiries into the Pike River Mine disaster and Christchurch earthquakes

Early life and family

Born on 24 November 1944, MacLean was the son of Donald Iain Neil MacLean, a solicitor and later magistrate, and Marjorie Parker MacLean (née Butcher).[1][2][3] He was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School, and went on to study at the University of Canterbury, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1967.[1] In 1969, he married Susan Gordon Eliott, and the couple went on to have three children.[1][2]

Career

After completing a period of compulsory military training, MacLean worked at his father's law firm. Between 1972 and 1993, he was a partner in three different Christchurch legal practices.[1] He was appointed as a coroner in 1978.[4]

After his appointment as a judge of the District Court in 1993, MacLean moved to Gisborne in 1994, where he was the sole judge.[1][5] He combined work as a coroner and a judge, and in 2007 he was appointed as the country's first chief coroner.[1][6][7] During his tenure, he presided over coronial inquiries into the Pike River Mine disaster and the Christchurch earthquakes.[8]

Following his mandatory retirement as a District Court judge at the age of 70 in 2014, MacLean was appointed an acting District Court judge for a further two-year term.[9] He sat on the Accident Compensation Appeals Authority from 2015 to 2018, and served as a member of the Parole Board until October 2021.[1]

MacLean died on 17 November 2022.[1]

Honours and awards

In 2012, MacLean received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Canterbury.[10] In the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the judiciary.[11]

References
  1. Lourens, Marine (3 December 2022). "Judge Neil MacLean: A life of law, courage and speaking the truth". Stuff. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  2. "Engagements". The Press. Vol. 109, no. 32011. 11 June 1969. p. 3. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  3. "Marjorie MacLean obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. "Coroner appointed" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. No. 53. 15 June 1978. p. 1658. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  5. "District Court judges appointed". New Zealand Gazette. 21 October 1993. p. 3100. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  6. Orsman, Bernard. "New Zealand's first Chief Coroner Neil MacLean who worked with grieving families of the Pike River Mine explosion has died". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  7. "New Zealand's first ever Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, has died". RNZ. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  8. Morris, Deborah. "Death of a 'fascinating' era for chief coroner Neil MacLean". Stuff NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  9. "Acting District Court judge appointed". New Zealand Gazette. No. 138. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  10. "Honorary graduates" (PDF). University of Canterbury. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  11. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
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