Four decades as a JP
Over 40 years ago, Neil Robinson was shoulder-tapped and asked if he wanted to serve his community.
The man doing the tapping was then Te Puke mayor the late Ian Johnson, and his request was for Neil to consider being a Justice of the Peace.
Neil agreed and, for over 42 years, he held the role.
Neil then lived on No 1 Rd, where he signatures fairly often because, whenever they employed people, they had to sign secrecy agreements.”
He says while fundamentally the work of a JP hasn’t changed, there has been a steady increased use of modern technology and an increasing need to keep up with changes in the justice world.
“It’s also becoming more common practice to assist people at weekends and evenings, especially with couples who are both working during the week.”
He says there has never been a set pattern to the work with some weeks much busier than others.
Neil has now moved to Pa¯pa¯moa and says he decided the time was right to retire as a JP.
“I felt I had done my share really and it’s probably better for younger ones to come on.”
He was recently presented with a long service certificate by the Royal Federation of New Zealand Justices’ Associations.
“It’s been very interesting and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” he says.