Sir Ronald Davison was made a Chief Justice in 1978 and was the judge who refused to stop the Springbok rugby test in 1981.
As the New Zealand Herald (18/8/97) states, he comes up with "paltable solutions - particularly to governments who want to keep public faith in established institutions." Once again Sir Ronald has delivered.
His appointment was greeted with justifiable hostility. Michael Cullen labelled Sir Ronald the "least distinguished Chief Justice this century" and pointed out that he "lacked the relevant competence for a complex tax inquiry" and the Opposition had no confidence in his "independence of judgement." Prophetic words.