Fiji’s judiciary has expanded with the addition of Paul Heath, who was officially sworn in at the State House yesterday.
Heath, the newly-appointed Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Fiji, was ceremoniously inducted by the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere. The event was attended by Acting Chief Justice Justice Salesi Temo and Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu.
Originally from New Zealand, Heath was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1978.
Before taking up his current role, Heath served as Chief Justice of the Pitcairn Islands from January 2022 until recently.
From March 2002 to April 2018, he served as a Judge of the High Court of New Zealand. In 2011, he held the position of Judge of the Court of Appeal of Vanuatu.
Heath also has extensive experience in arbitration, having acted as an arbitrator in six international commercial arbitrations and over 40 domestic commercial arbitrations. He has served as an umpire in two arbitrations, between May 2018 and January 2024.
He appeared as counsel in all senior courts in New Zealand before his 2002 appointment to the High Court Bench. His experience includes work in the Employment Court, Maori Land Court, and Waitangi Tribunal.
During his tenure at the High Court of New Zealand, Heath held positions as an Ad hoc member of the Court of Appeal’s Civil and Criminal Divisions, Senior Puisne Judge, and Acting Chief High Court Judge on two separate occasions in 2016 and 2017.