Ronald Keith Davison GBE CMG QC (1920 - 2015)

Born 16 Nov 1920 in Kaponga, Taranaki, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 2 Jul 2015 at age 94 in Auckland, New Zealand

Preceded by 9th Chief Justice Richard Wild

Ronald Davison 10th Chief Justice of New Zealand Feb 3 1978 - Feb 4 1989

Succeeded by 11th Chief Justice Thomas Eichelbaum

Biography

Ronald Davison GBE CMG QC is Notable.

Birth

On 16 November 1920 Ronald Keith Davison was born to Florence Minnie (McCleland) and Joseph James Davison. ^[1]

In 1932 he attended the Te Kuiti District High School ^[2]

Career

Sir Ronald Keith Davison GBE CMG QC (16 November 1920 – 2 July 2015) was a New Zealand lawyer and jurist. He served as the tenth Chief Justice of New Zealand from 1978 to 1989.

Davison presided over the case of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. His sentence of 10 years jail for the French secret service agents was highly applauded, and he made a memorable statement:

People who come to this country and commit terrorist activities cannot expect to have a short holiday at the expense of our Government and return home as heroes.

When The New Zealand Herald celebrated its 150th birthday in November 2013, they named a "New Zealander of the Year" for each year of their history. Davison was their New Zealander of the Year for 1985 for his conduct during the trial of the French secret service agents.

Davison headed the government inquiry (1994–1997) into certain matters related to overseas company taxation, popularly known as the Winebox Inquiry. This involved allegations against a number of parties including the merchant bank Fay Richwhite. He also presided over the 1994 inquiry into the Family court proceedings involving the Bristol family, which resulted in a number of changes being made to New Zealand's child protection legislation.

In the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours Davison was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire on 11 February 1978, just after his appointment as Chief Justice.

Marriage

Davison married Jacqueline May Carr in 1948. The couple had three children, including Paul Davison QC, a barrister who prosecuted, among other cases, the trial of Scott Watson for the disappearance of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope in the Marlborough Sounds on 1 January 1998.

Death

Sir Ronald Davison died on 2 July 2015. Jacqueline, Lady Davison, died in Auckland on 16 November 2016.

Obituary: ^[3]
Beloved husband of Jacqueline and loved father and father-in-law of Verity and Barry, Paul and Anne-Marie, and David (deceased). Much loved grandfather of Benjamin, David and Maresa, Danielle and Christopher, Jonathan and Clara, Caroline and Ross, Bridget and Joel, and Thomas, and great grandfather of Mia, Jackson, Ted, Blake, Allegra, Bjorn, Amelie, Isabella, Ella, and Benjamin. A service for Sir Ronald will be held at St Mary's in Holy Trinity, 446 Parnell Road, Auckland on Wednesday 8 July at 1.30pm to be followed by private cremation.

Research

His parents were Florence Minnie McCleland and Joseph James Davison.

On 14 January 1920 Florence Minnie McCleland and Joseph James Davison were married. ^[4]

His father: On 9 November 1889 Joseph James Davison was born to Jane and Joseph Davison. ^[5]

His mother: On 24 July 1893 Florence Minnie McCleland was born to Harriett and Thomas McCleland. ^[6]

His father's parents: On 14 August 1879 Jane Marson and Joseph Davison were married. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ NZBDM births 16/11/1920 1920/26657
2. ↑ King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3430, 13 December 1932, Page 5
3. ↑ NZ Herald obituary
4. ↑ NZBDM marriages 14/1/1920 1920/3375 Florence Minnie McCleland, Joseph James Davison
5. ↑ NZBDM births 9/11/1889 1889/1571 Davison, Joseph James, Jane, Joseph
6. ↑ NZBDM births 24/7/1893 1893/11211 McCleland, Florence Minnie, Harriett, Thomas
7. ↑ NZBDM marriages 14/8/1879 1879/1808 Jane Marson, Joseph Davison

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Davison