News

+ Within days of being re-organised, it was reported, and welcomed, that Waiheke Support Group had arranged its first activity: training with Rex Chandler, to brush up on Ministerial duties. This, Dawn Jones, told Council, is typical of Support Groups taking every opportunity to include training in their activities - it’s become an essential part of their meetings

+ Council adopted the document Arrangements for Service Desks which details guidelines for establishing and maintaining Service Desks: facilities fast becoming the most popular way for JPs to serve their community. “The Arrangement provides advice for new Service Desks…” Convener Ric Carlyon advised Council, “…and gives a good base document for those already successfully operating”.

+ Good progress is being made for next year’s Royal Federation Conference which Auckland Association is hosting at Spencer on Byron, Takapuna, February 27, ‘15. Organising Committee Chairman, Selwyn Haworth, told the meeting that budget-setting, setting the programme, arranging partners’ programmes and other plans are well advanced for a successful event. Wallis Walker said the Royal Federation’s Board has approved the programme proposed by the host Association.

+ Auckland’s the venue for another event – Regional Representative, Wallis Walker, also advised that the Regional Ministerial Seminar for JP trainers in the northern part of New Zealand has returned to the calendar after a break, and will be held in Auckland with a tentative date 23rd August.

+ The review of the Association’s Constitution is almost complete, President Colin Davis reported, and in a week or two the final draft will be approved. It will be circulated to Support Groups for comment and will be submitted to this year’s Annual General Meeting for ratification.

+ This year’s Auckland Regional Conference will be held on Sunday 14th September at Alexandra Park. Wallis Walker said an interesting programme is scheduled including the Year of the JP which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the appointment of New Zealand’s first JP, ministerial training and a speaker on population trends in Greater Auckland.
+ Registrar, Roger Brookes, reminded Council that the next swearing-in ceremony at Auckland District Court will be held on Monday 26th May when 7 appointees will be sworn.

+ Discussion during Council’s meeting centred on new JPs’ awareness of the expectation that they must be available to serve the public, to complete initial training with a mentor, to join a Support Group and to assist on a Service Desk. It was noted that these matters are mentioned in printed material given to candidates, canvassed again during interview and reiterated once they are sworn in. However, it was suggested that the check-list used during interview with prospective JPs should be amended to make certain that they are in no doubt that, if appointed, they’re expected to serve the public, with special awareness of being rostered at a Service Desk.

The latest JP Service Desk launched today in Manukau. It’s in Friendship House, 20 Putney Way, conveniently situated in the heart of the City Centre.

Justices of the Peace from South Auckland will be available at Friendship House on Monday and Wednesday mornings for those requiring the services of a JP. As with other Service Desks it’s a walk-up facility - no appointment necessary.

The JP Service Desk adds to the long list of amenities and wide range of services available to the community within Friendship House.

JPs will be available on two days each week, Mondays and Wednesdays, between 10am and 1pm.
This newest Service Desk is one of more than 50 operating across Greater Auckland under the auspices of the Auckland Justices of the Peace Association

There’s a quiet but determined revival going on at Waiheke, confirmed at last night’s meeting of the local Support Group.

A number of the island’s JPs, some of whom had not met before, gathered to hear proposals for regular support meetings, training and, importantly, plans to increase present JP availability to their community with an enhanced Service Desk. It’s planned to create a roster so there can be regular sessions attended by JPs at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Oneroa.

Auckland Association Council members Dawn Jones (Support Groups), Ric Carlyon (Service Desks) and David Grove(Immediate Past President), advised the meeting of experiences where other Groups have been established.

The 3 Council members left the island confident that the volunteers’ enthusiasm and dedication will result in the delivery of more efficient JP services on Waiheke.

To complete the training and orientation programme for new JPs the Registrar, Roger Brookes, has put together a “Welcome to…” kit. As well as congratulating newly-sworn JPs, the documentation points out expectations of them in their service to the community and suggests they join their local Support Group. This, the Registrar says, will put them in contact with a mentor to further familiarise duties and gain confidence. “This is part of the Association’s mission to have every JP trained and active,” says President, Colin Davis, “so it’s important to encourage new JPs, particularly, to undertake a full range of duties. The document also outlines further opportunities for refresher training and where JPs can seek further support, as required”.

One of the Council’s ongoing quests is that all JPs are active and trained so it’s interesting to dissect the Registrar’s summary of one month’s input into the training aspect of our activities.

Statistics for March reveal the dedication and hours JPs spent on training to better serve the community. All up, trainers and members invested some 350 hours in organised training, both Judicial and Ministerial. This includes the one-day training for 11 nominees. On top of these sessions other JPs will have put in additional hours training with their local Support Groups.

Aside from training, Judicial JPs sat for 155 hours in the 4 Auckland courts while JPs attending to Ministerial duties at Service Desks, at home and at the workplace, will have clocked up hundreds more hours during the month.

Volunteers, all.  

Briefs from Council’s Monthly Meeting held on 9th April 2014:

CONSTITUTION – President, Colin Davis, advised steady progress has been made on the review of the Association’s Constitution.

YELLOW PAGES – Registrar Roger Brookes reported that new JPs will no longer be listed in Yellow Pages under ‘Justices of the Peace’ nor will any further amendments be made by the Auckland Association’s office. JPs who want a listing, or to alter existing entries, should do so themselves.

THANKS – Considerable past experience and service was acknowledged when it was reported that 12 JPs have recently retired and will soon be receiving appropriate lapel badges.

2015 CONFERENCE – Is being hosted by Auckland Association, held at Takapuna’s Spencer on Byron in February next year. Advice was received that the organising committee’s on target planning the big event.

IT UPGRADE – Lion Foundation has donated funds enabling the Registrar’s office equipment to be upgraded.

WEBSITE – Work continues to create a communication link and information platform for our members and the public, and it was reported that ultimately the dynamic news updates will replace the quarterly hard-copy newsletter.

CONFERENCE EXPENSES – Council will suggest to Royal Federation that when it submits its 3 yearly funding request to the Minister of Justice that it includes an annual allocation to assist Associations stage the annual conference.

SERVICE DESKS – Three new Service Desks are planned – one in Manukau City at Friendship House should be operating before month’s end while Support Groups plan desks in Devonport and on Waiheke Island.

60 JPs from Hibiscus Coast gathered recently to share morning tea with Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows and local MP Mark Mitchell.
Discussion turned to a topic often talked over by JPs lately - why are there so many inactive JPs and why aren't they coming forward to help those who are providing services, particularly now there are Support Groups, Service Desks and organised training sessions.
Auckland Association supports MPs who have said they will write to JPs reminding them of the responsibilities they undertook when appointed.
The Minister agrees with this approach saying JPs should be given an option: serve their community or stand down, becoming a JP Retired.

Meet New Zealand’s most recently sworn Justices of the Peace!
They’re Ian Gardiner (Sandringham), Rama Isaia (Mangere Bridge) and Barbara Larsen (Warkworth).    
Yesterday they took the Oath of Office before Judge Philip Recordon in the Auckland District Court, in the presence of family, friends and representatives of the Association led by President, Colin Davis. Our Regional Representative at Royal Federation, Wallis Walker, also attended. Welcome Ian, Rama and Barbara!

Conveners of Support Groups met on Saturday with the objective to get updates on Association matters and take them back to their memberships across Greater Auckland.

"We are in a period of change", said President Colin Davis, opening the meeting "so it's important that the Council ensures regular communication enabling everyone to keep abreast of developments which affect all JPs. Part of this is the Association's new website which, while up and running, will shortly be enhanced".

The gathering heard the latest on Service Desks which are quickly becoming the focus of service to the public, on training sessions, assistance available for Support Groups and a reminder about next year's Royal Federation Conference which Auckland is hosting.

+ Council’s pressing on with its views about Accreditation and the Justices’ Quarterly periodical, resubmitting the rationale which supported Auckland Association’s remits on these two subjects at Conference, backed up with further submissions.

+ Planning for next year’s Conference at Takapuna in late February is well underway with registrations already open, on-line, for early-bird JPs wanting to be sure of their place at the meeting and social events. The venue is Spencer on Byron, right on Takapuna beachfront. See Conference 2015 on the front page of the Auckland Justices of the Peace Association’s website- http://www.jpauckland.org.nz/2015/conference

+ ‘Year of the JP’ will be reflected on the Association’s website and with the Annual Dinner, to be held on 12th November 2014, 200 years to the day since the first JP, Thomas Kendall, was appointed.

+ Review of the Association’s Constitution is well advanced with opportunity being taken to modernise the text as well as including changes agreed at Annual General Meetings.

+ Pat Samson attended his first meeting as the new member on Council. Pat replaces Jim Blackman who stood down. Jim moved house, returning to his roots in Taranaki, in retirement. Consequently, Ric Carlyon has taken over Jim’s portfolio as Convener of Service Desks.

+ Non-financial: 290 members have yet to pay their annual subscriptions and will receive a reminder notice.