18 Facts About Helen Winkelmann

Helen Winkelmann is the second woman to hold the position, following her immediate predecessor, Sian Elias.

Helen Winkelmann was raised in the Auckland suburb of Blockhouse Bay, and educated at Lynfield College.

Helen Winkelmann went on to study history and law at the University of Auckland, with a focus on commercial law, and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in history.

Helen Winkelmann was awarded the Auckland District Law Society Centenary Prize for best undergraduate degree, and was admitted to the bar in 1985.

Helen Winkelmann's sister is the New Zealand fashion designer Adrienne Helen Winkelmann.

Helen Winkelmann began work as a law clerk with Auckland firm Nicholson Gribbin.

In 1988, at age 25, Helen Winkelmann became the first female partner and one of the youngest partners ever in the firm's then 117-year history.

Helen Winkelmann remained at that firm until May 2001 when she began practice as a barrister sole specialising in insolvency, commercial litigation and medical disciplinary litigation.

Helen Winkelmann was appointed a High Court judge in July 2004 and she was appointed as Chief High Court Judge with effect from 1 February 2010.

Helen Winkelmann remained in that position until her appointment to the Court of Appeal in 2015.

Helen Winkelmann has spoken regularly on issues concerning the just and efficient operation of the Courts, and access to justice.

In 2011, following the devastating Canterbury earthquakes, Helen Winkelmann worked with Justice Miller to set up the Earthquake List in Christchurch.

Helen Winkelmann was jointly awarded the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration Award for Excellence in 2013, for her work in judicial administration flowing out of the Christchurch earthquake.

Helen Winkelmann worked with other Heads of Bench to establish Court procedures, including opening and closing of the Court day, so that the Court's processes better reflect the two founding cultures of New Zealand, Maori and Pakeha.

Helen Winkelmann joined the Court of Appeal Bench on 1 June 2015.

Helen Winkelmann held roles as the chief justice's representative on the Council of Law Reporting, and the Chair of the Institute of Judicial Studies.

On 17 December 2018, it was announced that Helen Winkelmann would succeed Dame Sian Elias as Chief Justice, and she was sworn in on 14 March 2019, becoming the second woman to hold the office.

Helen Winkelmann has filled this position six times: when the governors-general Patsy Reddy and Cindy Kiro were overseas and during the interregnum between the two governors-general.