Acting judges appointed to Court of Appeal

David Collins and Edwin Wylie have joined the Court of Appeal as acting judges.

In a statement, Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann confirmed that Collins will sit from 19 March until 18 March 2026. Meanwhile, Wylie will commence at the bench on 18 May, with his term ending on 30 June.

The governor-general appointed the new judges on the recommendation of the attorney-general. The move is expected to ease the court’s workload.

Collins was first appointed to the Court of Appeal bench in April 2019. He also served as a High Court judge.

He was a partner at Rainey Collins before transitioning to the independent bar and achieving the QC distinction in 2000. In September 2006, he became solicitor-general.

Wylie retired as a High Court judge last year after having served on the bench at the Auckland High Court since 2008. A specialist in resource management, local government law and civil litigation, he earned his QC distinction in 2002.