Graham Speight

Sir Graham Davies Speight (21 July 1921 – 17 July 2008) was a New Zealand High Court judge.[1] He served as the acting Queen's Representative in the Cook Islands in 1984.

Sir Graham Speight
Queen’s Representative to the Cook Islands
Acting
In office 18 September 1984 – 19 December 1984
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tom Davis
Preceded by	Gaven Donne
Succeeded by	Sir Tangaroa Tangaroa
Personal details
Born	Graham Davies Speight 21 July 1921 Auckland, Dominion of New Zealand
Died	17 July 2008 (aged 86) Auckland, New Zealand
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Muriel Booth
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Auckland

Speight was born in Auckland on 21 July 1921.[1] He was educated at Newmarket School, Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University College, where he earned his law degree in 1942.[1] After graduating, he served in the New Zealand Army from 1942 until 1946.[1] He married Elizabeth Muriel Booth in 1947, and the couple went on to have two children.[1]

Speight served as the Crown solicitor in Auckland from 1959 until 1966, when was appointed a High Court judge.[1] He later served as the Chief Justice of the Cook Islands and the President of the Court of Appeal of Fiji from 1982 until 1988.[1]

In the 1983 New Year Honours, Speight was appointed a Knight Bachelor, in recognition of his service as a High Court judge.[2]

Speight died in Auckland on 17 July 2008, at the age of 86. He was survived by his wife, son and five grandchildren.[1]

References

1. "Former judge Sir Graham Speight dies". Otago Daily Times. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
2. "No. 49214". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1982. p. 47.