{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Short description|New Zealand District Court judge}} '''Frances Jean Eivers''' is a New Zealand District Court judge; she is Māori and is a member of the Ngāti Maniapoto iwi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Administering justice through a cultural lens {{!}} The District Court of New Zealand|url=https://www.districtcourts.govt.nz/about-the-courts/judges-at-work/administering-justice-through-a-cultural-lens/|access-date=14 October 2021|publisher=District Court of New Zealand}}</ref> In October 2021 she was appointed Children's Commissioner for New Zealand.<ref name="Stuff 7 Oct 2021">{{Cite news|date=7 October 2021|title=Judge Frances Eivers appointed as new Children's Commissioner|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126621043/judge-frances-eivers-appointed-as-new-childrens-commissioner|access-date=14 October 2021|work=Stuff|language=en}}</ref>
== Biography == Eivers was born and brought up in Te Teko in the eastern Bay of Plenty. She began her legal career in 1985, when she was admitted to the bar in the Auckland High Court.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First laws: tikanga Māori in / and the law |url=https://maorilawreview.co.nz/2018/09/first-laws-tikanga-maori-in-and-the-law/|work=Māori Law Review|access-date=14 October 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> She has worked as a solicitor both in England and New Zealand, specialising in family law. In November 2000 she was appointed Counsel for the Child and in 2004 was appointed a Youth Advocate. Eivers was appointed a District Court judge with a Family Court warrant in 2009.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=District Court Judge appointed|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/district-court-judge-appointed-9|access-date=14 October 2021|website=Beehive.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Government|language=en}}</ref> She was sworn in as a judge at a ceremony held at her home marae, Te Teko's Kokohinau Marae.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 December 2009|title=Frances Eivers made a District Court judge|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3121109/Frances-Eivers-made-a-District-Court-judge|access-date=14 October 2021|work=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> In addition, she has presided over Rangatahi Courts, which hear cases involving young Māori people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rangatahi Courts of Aotearoa New Zealand – an update – Māori Law Review|url=https://maorilawreview.co.nz/2014/11/rangatahi-courts-of-aotearoa-new-zealand-an-update/|access-date=14 October 2021|language=en-US}}</ref>
Eivers was a founding member of Te Huinga Roia (Māori Law Society) and serves as a mentor to law students at the University of Auckland Law School.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Finding inspiration from industry insights |url=https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2020/12/04/finding-inspiration-from-industry-insights.html|access-date=14 October 2021|publisher=University of Auckland}}</ref>
In October 2021 she was appointed Children's Commissioner.<ref name="Stuff 7 Oct 2021" /> Eivers served in that role until the Children's Commissioner was replaced by the Children and Young People's Commission in July 2023. She subsequently served as the first Chief Children's Commissioner in the Commission until 31 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Government strengthens advocacy for all children with new Commission |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-strengthens-advocacy-all-children-new-commission |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=25 December 2023 |date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225104731/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-strengthens-advocacy-all-children-new-commission|archive-date=25 December 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Children's Commissioner no more as new oversight Children and Young People's Commission launches |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/childrens-commissioner-no-more-as-new-oversight-children-and-young-peoples-commission-launches/FZRQYYLOEJAJFO4SAWMW6UOCEE/ |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805193617/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/childrens-commissioner-no-more-as-new-oversight-children-and-young-peoples-commission-launches/FZRQYYLOEJAJFO4SAWMW6UOCEE/ |archive-date=5 August 2023}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eivers, Frances}} {{Authority control}} Category:Ngāti Maniapoto people Category:Children's ombudsmen in New Zealand Category:20th-century New Zealand lawyers Category:21st-century New Zealand lawyers Category:21st-century New Zealand judges Category:People from the Bay of Plenty Region Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:District Court of New Zealand judges Category:Family Court of New Zealand judges
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