New Zealand's longest serving judge Justice Andrew Tipping is stepping down on Friday.
Justice Tipping's final appearance on the Supreme Court bench in Wellington comes after 26 years as a judge in the New Zealand courts.
He was appointed as a High Court judge in 1986, before being appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1997.
Justice Tipping became a member of the Privy Council in 1998, which was, at the time, New Zealand's highest court.
He's sat on the Supreme Court since its establishment in 2004.
In a speech at Justice Tipping's final court sitting, Attorney-General Chris Finlayson said he has served in all courts "with huge distinction".
Mr Finlayson said Justice Tipping has been noted for his "formidable intellect".
Justice Tipping graduated from Canterbury University in 1966.
He practised as a common law partner at Christchurch firm Wynn Williams & Co before being appointed to the High Court bench in 1986.
He was president of the Canterbury District Law Society in 1984 and a council member of the New Zealand Law Society from 1982 to 1984.
In 2006 Justice Tipping was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and in 2009 he was redesignated a Knight Companion of that Order.
NZN