13 Nov 2017

Māori Land Court mourns 'brother judge'

8:11 pm on 13 November 2017

The Māori Land Court is mourning the passing of Judge David Ambler.

Judge David Ambler

Judge David Ambler Photo: Supplied

Judge Ambler served the Māori Land Court for the past 11 years. He was the presiding officer of Te Rohe Pōtae Inquiry, the treaty settlement claim for iwi in the King Country.

In 1990, Judge Ambler was appointed to the bar and worked at Kensington Swan Solicitors before moving to Rotorua where he became a partner of East Brewster Solicitors.

During his time as a lawyer he represented a number of Māori organisatons including claimaints in Hauraki, Te Urewera, Wairarapa ki Tararua and Central North Island.

"While we grieve for our brother judge, Judge Ambler's death is an intensely personal loss for his whānau and close friends," Chief Māori Land Court Judge and Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal Judge Isaac Wilson said.

Judge Ambler was 50 and is survived by his wife, tamariki and mokopuna. He is being taken to Moko Marae at Waitangi near Te Puke before being laid to rest on Wednesday.