Past Members

Debsoc has a great number of past members who have gone on to top various fields and become well known names around New Zealand and the world. A number of the most noteworthy former Debsoc members are listed below.

Hon Christopher Finlayson – Attorney-General (2008-2017), Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations (2008-2017 and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage (2008-2017)

Hon Bill English – Prime Minister (2016-2017), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (2008-2016)

Hon Tim Groser – Minister for Trade (2008-2015), Minister for International Climate Change Negotiations (2008-2015)

Russell Fairbrother – Labour Party MP

Hamish Hancock – former National Party MP and now Crown Counsel.

Raybon Kan – Comedian, Sunday Star-Times columnist

John Platts-Mills QC – Rhodes Scholar and UK MP

Judge Peter Boshier – Principal Judge of the Family Court of New Zealand (2004-2012), New Zealand Chief Ombudsman (2015-present)

Justice Stephen Kos – President of the Court of Appeal (2016-2022), Justice of the Supreme Court (2022-present)

Sir Matthew Oram – Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (1950-1957)

Rt.Hon. Sir Humphrey O’Leary KCMG – Chief Justice of New Zealand, (1946-1953)

Rt.Hon. Edmund (Ted) Thomas – acting Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand

Sir Brian Elwood – New Zealand Chief Ombudsman (1994-2003)

Sir David Smith – Justice of the Supreme Court (now the High Court) and Chancellor of Victoria University

Oswald Chettle Mazengarb QC – Prominent Barrister and author of the Mazengarb Report

Peter Biggs – Head of Colenso and former Chair of Creative NZ

Gerard Curry – Senior litigation partner in Russell McVeagh and lawyer for Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur

The Society has also had a number of members go on to be Rhodes Scholars to Oxford University. This is New Zealand’s most prestigious scholarship. These members are:

Malcolm Birdling

Chelsea Payne

Alexandra Gillespie

John Platts-Mills