NEW ZEALAND: Energetic Judge Enjoys Semi-Retirement

TARANAKI (Taranaki Daily News), December 10, 2007: It was enough to drop a few seasoned jaws around the newsroom. Judge John Macdonald retired, they repeated in disbelief. "He can't be - he's my age," one replied. The judge, who was in New Plymouth last week filling in for regular Taranaki district court Judge Allan Roberts, was happy to accommodate the request for a quick interview in his chambers to confirm the news. And yes, it was true. The 57-year-old ex-New Plymouth man, who could easily pass for someone more than a decade younger, has called it a day - well almost. "In May, I would have done 18 years as a judge after being appointed in 1990," he said. "I retired in January, but I've still got an active warrant and I'm still on the Parole Board, so my work diet now is the board and relieving now and then around the countryside. So it's semi-retirement. The idea was to play more tennis and play more golf, but it hasn't necessarily come to fruition yet. "But it has given me more control of my life. If I don't want to work, I don't have to. After 16 years as a judge you can retire on a full pension." His return last week to Taranaki was his second visit this year, and a return to where he first cut his cloth in the courtroom. After graduating from Otago University, Judge Macdonald ventured north, practising at high-profile New Plymouth firm Billings before going out on his own in 1988. Less than two years later he was appointed to the bench at the age of 39 and posted to the busy Henderson District Court in West Auckland. From there it was south to Dunedin, where he still resides with his wife, Sue. The last of his four children is due to head away from home early next year. But it was not just the courtroom where Judge Macdonald excelled and is remembered in Taranaki. A dynamic point guard, he was a driving force for New Plymouth basketball before going on to captain his country. The sport played a huge part in his life until recently when, he says, it was time to give up because the bruises were taking too long to leave his body. "There was also a fair bit of frustration involved with wanting to do things you used to be able to do," he said. "There was also the problem of being a judge and playing a contact sport," he joked. But there is still time for tennis in his life and he keeps his racket swinging at premier level in Dunedin. Semi-retirement has had its benefits already, with the judge able to go overseas with Sue to visit two of their children, one in South Korea and the other in London. "But I'll always enjoy coming back to New Plymouth when the opportunity arises," he said. "I get to catch up with so many people. There are so many, I have to write a list before I leave home to make sure I at least call some of them." By Glenn McLean © Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2007.