Owen Woodhouse
Encyclopedia
Arthur "Owen" Woodhouse, ONZ
, KBE
, DSC
(born 18 July 1916) is a New Zealand
jurist
and chair of government commissions
.
He was born in Napier
and graduated from the University of Auckland
with an LL.B. in 1940. During the World War II
he served as a Lieutenant Commander
in the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
. He was then seconded to Royal Navy
working as liaison officer
with Yugoslav Partisan. By the end of the war he was serving as Naval Attaché at the British Embassy in Belgrade
.
He was appointed a Judge of the New Zealand Supreme Court in 1961, a Judge of the New Zealand Court of Appeal in 1973 and was President of the Court of Appeal
from 1981 to 1986. He was President of the Law Commission
from 1986 to 1991. He was made a Privy Counsellor and member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
in 1974.
He was the Chairman of the Royal Commission on Accident Compensation
from 1966 to 1967, which produced the Woodhouse Report that recommended a “no-fault” accident compensation scheme. The Report is regarded as one of the most significant legal reforms of this generation. He was commissioned by the Australian Government the result being the Report of the National Committee of Inquiry, Compensation and Rehabilitation in Australia, now known as the Australian Woodhouse Report. He later prepared a Third Woodhouse Report as President of the Law Commission on Personal Injury, Prevention and Recovery, which recommended an end to the disparities between the treatment of accident victims and those incapacitated by sickness or disease.
He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law
by Victoria University of Wellington
in 1978 and York University, Toronto in 1981.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
in 1944 for naval operations in the Adriatic. He was made a Knight Bachelor
in 1974, a KBE in 1981 and an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand
in 2007.
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(born 18 July 1916) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and chair of government commissions
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
.
He was born in Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
and graduated from the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
with an LL.B. in 1940. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal New Zealand Navy .-Early history:The first Naval Volunteer units were formed in Auckland and Nelson in 1858. Over the rest of the 19th century Naval Volunteer units were formed in various ports such as Bluff,...
. He was then seconded to Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
working as liaison officer
Liaison officer
A liaison officer or LNO is a person that liaises between two organizations to communicate and coordinate their activities. Generally, they are used to achieve the best utilization of resources or employment of services of one organization by another. In the military, liaison officers may...
with Yugoslav Partisan. By the end of the war he was serving as Naval Attaché at the British Embassy in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
He was appointed a Judge of the New Zealand Supreme Court in 1961, a Judge of the New Zealand Court of Appeal in 1973 and was President of the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal of New Zealand
The Court of Appeal of New Zealand, located in Wellington, is New Zealand’s principal intermediate appellate court. In practice, most appeals are resolved at this intermediate appellate level, rather than in the Supreme Court...
from 1981 to 1986. He was President of the Law Commission
New Zealand Law Commission
New Zealand's Law Commission was established in 1986 by the Law Commission Act 1985. The Commission is a Crown Entity under the Crown Entities Act 2004....
from 1986 to 1991. He was made a Privy Counsellor and member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
in 1974.
He was the Chairman of the Royal Commission on Accident Compensation
Accident Compensation Corporation
The Accident Compensation Corporation is a New Zealand Crown entity responsible for administering the Accident Compensation Act 2001. The Act provides support to citizens, residents, and temporary visitors who have suffered personal injuries....
from 1966 to 1967, which produced the Woodhouse Report that recommended a “no-fault” accident compensation scheme. The Report is regarded as one of the most significant legal reforms of this generation. He was commissioned by the Australian Government the result being the Report of the National Committee of Inquiry, Compensation and Rehabilitation in Australia, now known as the Australian Woodhouse Report. He later prepared a Third Woodhouse Report as President of the Law Commission on Personal Injury, Prevention and Recovery, which recommended an end to the disparities between the treatment of accident victims and those incapacitated by sickness or disease.
He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
by Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
in 1978 and York University, Toronto in 1981.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
in 1944 for naval operations in the Adriatic. He was made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1974, a KBE in 1981 and an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
in 2007.