31 Nigel Hampton, QC

Last Year – No. 35

Remaining in the same position, Nigel Hampton QC was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the law.

His active legal career continues, capping an already successful and esteemed involvement in his representation of the families of the Pike River victims, as well as the CTV building collapse. He remains a judicial officer for World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby, is on the boards of charitable bodies, and is New Zealand patron of the Howard League for penal reform.  

He became involved during 2019 in the sensitive topic of drug use by recreational athletes.

As chair of the NZ Rugby hearing review body (PHRB), he likened the Drug Free Sport NZ’s approach to a “sledgehammer attempting to crack the tiniest of nuts”, when it overturned a sanction against a retired club rugby player found to have ordered Clenbuterol online.

The PHRB also questioned whether DFSNZ’s decision to relentlessly pursue the case was an appropriate use of resources.

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