- Hon Judith Collins KC
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced several High Court and Environment Court appointments.
The appointees will sit in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington. Those appointed are:
Owen Paulsen
Justice Paulsen, currently an Associate High Court Judge, becomes a High Court Judge. He graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Laws in and began his career at Harman & Co, where he was a partner from 1991-1998.
From 2000-2001 Justice Paulsen was an adjudication and mediation member of the Employment Tribunal while also in sole practice as a litigation lawyer, and from 2001-2014 was a partner in Cavell Leitch Law. In 2011 he graduated from the University of Auckland with a Master of Laws (Commercial Law) (First Class Honours).
From 2015-2019 Justice Paulsen was Lord Chief Justice of the Kingdom of Tonga, the professional head of the Tongan judiciary, the President of both the Court of Appeal and the Land Court, and an advisor to His Majesty King Tupou VI on the Privy Council in land cases. While in Tonga he was awarded an official Honour by the King of Tonga making him a member of The Most Devoted Royal Household Order of Tonga.
Justice Paulsen was appointed an Associate Judge of the High Court in 2019. His appointment as a High Court Judge is effective from 15 November 2025 and he will sit in Christchurch.
Helen Wild
Helen Wild has been appointed an Associate High Court Judge and will sit in Auckland from 16 February 2026.
Associate Judge Wild graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Laws in 1987. She worked at Simpson Grierson from 1988-1996, becoming a Senior Associate in 1992.
In 1997 she joined the Auckland District Health Board as Legal Counsel. She became a Principal with Chapman Tripp in 2002, before returning to Simpson Grierson as a Special Counsel in 2005.
From 2007-2015 Associate Judge Wild was Senior Counsel with Television New Zealand. She joined Anderson Creagh Lai Limited as a Director in 2015.
Associate Judge Wild joined the Auckland Council as litigation and dispute resolution manager in 2016 and since 2020 has been the Council's principal legal advisor and head of the legal team.
David Caldwell
Judge Caldwell graduated from the University of Canterbury and was admitted to the bar in 1989. He was a partner at Lane Neave and then at Tavendale and Partners in Christchurch, before joining Bridgeside Chambers in 2016.
He has extensive experience as a litigator and mediator in both employment and resource management law. He has been appointed as an independent commissioner by territorial and regional councils for numerous consent and plan change applications.
Judge Caldwell will be sworn in on 15 December 2025 and will sit in the Environment Court in Wellington.
