The new judge has Family Court jurisdiction
A new district court judge with Family Court jurisdiction has been appointed to Rotorua.
Dunedin barrister Melinda Broek has more than 20 years of expertise in family and criminal law. She started her legal career with a focus on family and criminal law, and began working for Invercargill firm Scholefield Cockroft Lloyd in 1996, remaining there until 2002.
During her tenure, Broek took a year off to work in London, gaining experience in matters involving conduct of complex child protection, mental health, education and judicial review.
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In 2002, Broek transitioned to a role with another Invercargill firm, Walker Restieaux. Two years later, she went back to London, working in child protection with a borough council.
She served as a clerk in hearings on school admissions and exclusions, and advised lay members with regard to evidential and other legal issues. From 2005 to 2008, Broek was also the borough council’s lead solicitor for mental health.
In 2008, she returned to New Zealand and joined Dunedin firm Sharon Stark Lont, focusing on family law. She remained with the firm until 2013.
After departing Sharon Stark Lont, Broek became a barrister sole with a specialisation in family law.
She has iwi affiliations to Ngai Tai, and has devoted time to several cultural and faith groups. At present, she is a volunteer at the Dunedin Community Law Centre.
Attorney-General David Parker announced Broek’s new appointment on Thursday. She will be sworn in on 23 June in Dunedin.