Chief Justice of New Zealand

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/chief-justice-of-new-zealand

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the official title?Chief Justice of New Zealand
2. What is the māori title?Te Kaiwhakawā Tumuaki o Aotearoa
3. Why does the Chief Justice sometimes act as the head of state?When the Governor‑General cannot do their job, the Chief Justice becomes the temporary head of state, called the Administrator of the Government, to keep the country running smoothly.
4. How is the Chief Justice chosen and appointed?The Governor‑General appoints the Chief Justice after the Prime Minister gives formal advice. This keeps the judge independent but also accountable to the government.

Judiciary: The branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying the laws of a state.
Supreme Court: The highest appellate court in New Zealand, established in 2004.
Governor-General: The representative of the monarch in New Zealand, serving as the head of state.
Rule of Law: The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.