Rob Moodie
Encyclopedia
Rob Moodie (born c 1939) has been a prominent New Zealand
policeman and lawyer. He is also notable for his wearing of kaftan
s during the 1980s, and more obviously female clothing while Police Association secretary then and in the High Court in 2006.
, he entered foster care
at age 7 when his father died.
He did not do well at school and left aged 15. He joined the New Zealand Police
force in 1959 and served as a detective in Wellington, rising to the rank of inspector. He then studied law
at Victoria University of Wellington
, graduating with first-class honours and subsequently completed a PhD.
From 1976 to 1986, he was secretary to the Police Association and was awarded life membership in 1987. He then became a successful goat farmer, and was Mayor
of the Manawatu district from 1995 to 1998.
Mr Moodie also ran an entertainment park on state highway 1 Plimmerton
, allowing customers to race drift cars he designed himself around a track.
In 2006 he helped clients Keith and Margaret Berryman, whose farm was the scene of a bridge collapse that killed a visiting beekeeper. The Te Rata Bridge
had been designed and built by the New Zealand Army
, which disputed claims that the collapse was caused by poor design and construction.
A 52-minute documentary
made about Moodie in 2009, titled Lost In Wonderland, was directed by Zoe McIntosh and produced by Costa Botes
.
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...
policeman and lawyer. He is also notable for his wearing of kaftan
Kaftan
A kaftan is a man's coat usually reaching to the ankles with long sleeves, and which buttons down the front. It can be made of wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton. It is often worn with a sash....
s during the 1980s, and more obviously female clothing while Police Association secretary then and in the High Court in 2006.
First 60 years
Born in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, he entered foster care
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
at age 7 when his father died.
He did not do well at school and left aged 15. He joined the New Zealand Police
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
force in 1959 and served as a detective in Wellington, rising to the rank of inspector. He then studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at 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...
, graduating with first-class honours and subsequently completed a PhD.
From 1976 to 1986, he was secretary to the Police Association and was awarded life membership in 1987. He then became a successful goat farmer, and was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Manawatu district from 1995 to 1998.
Mr Moodie also ran an entertainment park on state highway 1 Plimmerton
Plimmerton
The township of Plimmerton is adjacent to one of the more congenial beaches in the northwest part of the Wellington urban area of Porirua in New Zealand...
, allowing customers to race drift cars he designed himself around a track.
Recent activities
Though he is married with three children, his recent display has been in what he reportedly calls "a gender-bending protest against the male-dominated corruption of New Zealand's judicial system".In 2006 he helped clients Keith and Margaret Berryman, whose farm was the scene of a bridge collapse that killed a visiting beekeeper. The Te Rata Bridge
Te Rata Bridge
The Te Rata Bridge was a suspension bridge across the Retaruke River in the King Country, New Zealand. On 22 March 1994 two transoms snapped causing the bridge to collapse while beekeeper Kenneth Richards was crossing in a laden light truck...
had been designed and built by the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
, which disputed claims that the collapse was caused by poor design and construction.
A 52-minute documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
made about Moodie in 2009, titled Lost In Wonderland, was directed by Zoe McIntosh and produced by Costa Botes
Costa Botes
Costa Botes is a New Zealand writer, director and cinematographer.-Movie-making career:Botes is best known in New Zealand for Forgotten Silver , a documentary he co-wrote and co-directed with Peter Jackson...
.