Sir Peter Trapski
- February 20, 2025
- 89 years
About Sir Peter Trapski
Sir Peter Trapski, 89, New Zealand lawyer and judge, chief judge of the District Court (1985–1989).
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Full Biography
|Sir Peter John Trapski KNZM CBE (12 October 1935 – 20 February 2025) was a New Zealand jurist. He served as chief District Court judge between 1985 and 1989, and was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal from 1989 until 1993.
Background
Trapski was born in Ōtorohanga on 12 October 1935, the son of John and Madoline Trapski, and was educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream. He went on to study law at Victoria University College, graduating LLB in 1959.
In 1960, Trapski married Helen Mary Christie, and the couple had five children. He died on 20 February 2025, at the age of 89.
Legal career
Trapski practised as a barrister and solicitor from 1960 until 1972 when he was appointed a stipendary magistrate. In 1980, when district courts replaced magistrates' courts, he became a district court judge. In 1981, he was appointed principal Family Court judge, and in 1985 chief District Court judge, serving in that role until 1989. From 1989 to 1993, he was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal. He chaired the War Pensions Appeal Board from 1989, the Dairy Herd Improvement Tribunal from 1992, and the Judicial Control Authority for Racing from 1994 to 1995.
Commissioned in the New Zealand Army in 1956, Trapski was appointed colonel-commandant of the New Zealand Legal Service in 1989, deputy judge advocate-general in 1990, and judge advocate-general in 1995.
Trapski was a council member of the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association from 1985 to 1989, including a term as vice president between 1988 and 1989.
After retiring from the bench in 1989, Trapski completed a Master of Business Studies degree in dispute resolution at Massey University, graduating in 1998. The topic of his research was disputes in the sharemilking industry.
Honours and awards
In 1977, Trapski was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. In the 1989 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the law and the community, in the 2003 New Year Honours, and following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government in 2009, he accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
In 1997, Trapski was made a Knight of the Order of St Sylvester by Pope John Paul II. He was elected a Fellow of the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand in 1990, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London) in 1992.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Trapski
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Sir Peter Trapski's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what town was Sir Peter Trapski born?
- A.Ōtorohangacorrect
- B.Silverstream
- C.Wellington
- D.Auckland
Sir Peter Trapski was born in Ōtorohanga on 12 October 1935.
Source: Background
2.Which educational institution did Sir Peter Trapski attend for his legal studies?
- A.University of Auckland
- B.Massey University
- C.Victoria University Collegecorrect
- D.St Patrick's College
Sir Peter Trapski studied law at Victoria University College, graduating with an LLB in 1959.
Source: Background
3.When did Sir Peter Trapski serve as the chief judge of the District Court?
- A.1985–1989correct
- B.1989–1993
- C.1972–1980
- D.1981–1985
Sir Peter Trapski served as chief District Court judge between 1985 and 1989.
Source: Introduction
4.Who was Sir Peter Trapski's spouse?
- A.Madoline Trapski
- B.Helen Mary Christiecorrect
- C.Mary Silverstream
- D.Elizabeth Jubilee
In 1960, Sir Peter Trapski married Helen Mary Christie.
Source: Background
5.What was the subject of the research Sir Peter Trapski conducted for his Master of Business Studies?
- A.The history of the Waitangi Tribunal
- B.Judicial procedures in the Family Court
- C.Disputes in the sharemilking industrycorrect
- D.New Zealand military legal history
Sir Peter Trapski's research for his degree at Massey University focused on disputes in the sharemilking industry.
Source: Legal career
6.In what year was Sir Peter Trapski appointed a stipendary magistrate?
- A.1980
- B.1985
- C.1972correct
- D.1960
Sir Peter Trapski practised as a barrister and solicitor until 1972 when he was appointed a stipendary magistrate.
Source: Legal career
7.Which military role did Sir Peter Trapski hold starting in 1995?
- A.Military chaplain
- B.Deputy judge advocate-general
- C.Judge advocate-generalcorrect
- D.Colonel-commandant
Sir Peter Trapski was appointed judge advocate-general in 1995.
Source: Legal career
8.Sir Peter Trapski served as a member of the Waitangi Tribunal during which years?
- A.1994–1995
- B.1985–1989
- C.1981–1985
- D.1989–1993correct
Sir Peter Trapski was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal from 1989 until 1993.
Source: Legal career
9.In what year did Sir Peter Trapski earn his Master of Business Studies degree?
- A.2003
- B.1989
- C.1993
- D.1998correct
After retiring from the bench, Sir Peter Trapski completed a Master of Business Studies degree at Massey University, graduating in 1998.
Source: Legal career
10.Which organization did Sir Peter Trapski serve as vice president from 1988 to 1989?
- A.The Judicial Control Authority for Racing
- B.The Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand
- C.The Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Associationcorrect
- D.The War Pensions Appeal Board
Sir Peter Trapski was a council member of the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association, including a term as vice president between 1988 and 1989.
Source: Legal career
11.Which honour was awarded to Sir Peter Trapski by Pope John Paul II in 1997?
- A.Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- B.Knight of the Order of St Sylvestercorrect
- C.Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
- D.Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
In 1997, Sir Peter Trapski was made a Knight of the Order of St Sylvester by Pope John Paul II.
Source: Honours and awards
12.What was the name of the tribunal Sir Peter Trapski chaired starting in 1992?
- A.Judicial Control Authority
- B.Dairy Herd Improvement Tribunalcorrect
- C.War Pensions Appeal Board
- D.Waitangi Tribunal
Sir Peter Trapski chaired the Dairy Herd Improvement Tribunal from 1992.
Source: Legal career
13.In what year did Sir Peter Trapski receive the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal?
- A.2003
- B.1960
- C.1989
- D.1977correct
In 1977, Sir Peter Trapski was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.
Source: Honours and awards
14.At what age did Sir Peter Trapski pass away?
- A.89correct
- B.92
- C.85
- D.95
Sir Peter Trapski died on 20 February 2025 at the age of 89.
Source: Background
15.Sir Peter Trapski served as the principal Family Court judge starting in what year?
- A.1981correct
- B.1972
- C.1985
- D.1980
Sir Peter Trapski was appointed principal Family Court judge in 1981.
Source: Legal career
16.Which professional body elected Sir Peter Trapski as a Fellow in 1990?
- A.The New Zealand Legal Service
- B.The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London)
- C.The Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association
- D.The Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealandcorrect
Sir Peter Trapski was elected a Fellow of the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand in 1990.
Source: Honours and awards
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