She became appeals commissioner for New Zealand Olympic Committee last year
Chris Bishop, attorney-general, has announced and Helen Winkelmann, New Zealand’s chief justice, has welcomed the appointment of Sarah Elizabeth Wroe, an Auckland-based barrister, as an associate judge of the New Zealand High Court in Auckland as of 14 September 2026.
According to a media statement from the New Zealand courts, her swearing-in ceremony will be at the Auckland High Court on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.
The government’s news release and the courts’ media statement provided more information regarding the new judicial appointee.
In 2025, Wroe received an appointment as an appeals commissioner for the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
In June 2017, at Eldon Chambers in Auckland, she began practising as a barrister sole. Her commercial and civil litigation practice has focused on trusts and estates, other property disputes, and sports law.
At the College of Law, Wroe taught advocacy, civil litigation, and property Law for several years.
She worked as a senior associate at a specialist litigation firm until 2017. At Martelli McKegg, she served as a senior solicitor/senior associate until September 2015. In August 2011, she earned admission as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand.
In 2006, Wroe relocated to New Zealand with her family. At a boutique law firm aimed at advising leaky homeowners, she served as a lay advocate.
In Bristol, England, she worked as a barrister focusing on criminal and personal injury law from 1998–2005.
At Regent’s College School of Psychotherapy and Counselling in London, Wroe trained as a mediator. At the Inns of Court School of Law in London, she completed the bar vocational course in 1998.
At the University of Cambridge, she graduated as a bachelor scholar of Christ’s College in 1997, with first-class honours in law.
Here are some other announcements regarding appointments of judges to the High Court of New Zealand.
On 26 August 2026, Chief Justice Winkelmann announced the appointments of Cheryl Gwyn and Peter Churchman as acting judges of the High Court, pursuant to acting warrants.
On 24 July 2026, Bishop announced the appointment of Edward David (Ed) Crook, an Auckland-based barrister and solicitor, as a High Court judge sitting in Auckland as of 24 August 2026.
On 24 April 2026, Bishop announced the appointment of Rachel Julienne Sussock as a High Court judge sitting in Auckland, effective on 1 June 2026.
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