Mr Justice John Laurenson (69) was appointed as Tonga's new Supreme Court Judge, from January 24.

Justice Laurenson, who is a recently retired High Court judge from Auckland, New Zealand, will be assisting Tonga...’s Chief Justice, Hon. Anthony Ford, with the hearing of court cases at the Nuku...’alofa Supreme Court.

Justice Laurenson's recruitment to Tonga was made possible through NZAID, the aid donor agency of the New Zealand Government.

Chief Justice Ford said this afternoon that Justice Laurenson will be a temporary Supreme Court judge for Tonga for three months, until May 24. Tonga's next permanent Supreme Court judge would be an Australian and interviews were currently being held. The new permanent Supreme Court judge for Tonga would be confirmed in February and should arrive in Tonga before May 24 when Justice Laurenson completes his three months assignment.

Tonga has had only one Supreme Court Judge, Chief Justice Ford, since early November when the former Chief Justice Webster returned to Scotland.