She has worked across New Zealand’s Youth, Family, District Courts
Chris Bishop, attorney-general, has announced the appointment of Vanessa Curac as a judge of the New Zealand District Court in Whangarei, to be sworn in on 30 November 2026.
The government’s news release provided more information regarding Curac’s professional experience.
With 25 years of legal experience, she has centred her work on family law and has also handled criminal matters. She has practised from Friendship Chambers in Manukau, South Auckland.
Curac has focused on acting on behalf of young people before the Youth Court of New Zealand, on behalf of children before the Family Court of New Zealand, and on behalf of young adults before South Auckland’s District Courts.
In the family law jurisdiction, she has acted as counsel, as lawyer for child, and as counsel to assist.
From 2020–24, Curac worked as a panel lawyer for survivors in the Abuse in State Care Inquiry. For four years, she served as secretary of the South Auckland Bar Association.
In 2004, she became a barrister. Before that, she worked as a solicitor for Oranga Tamariki. In 2001, she earned admission at the High Court of New Zealand in Wellington.
Here are some other announcements regarding appointments of judges to the District Court of New Zealand.
On 9 October 2026, Bishop announced the appointments of the following judges: Leighvi Maynard, based in Napier, and Nicola Graham, based in Hamilton.
On 4 September 2026, Bishop announced the appointment of Christopher Morris as a judge of the Auckland District Court, to be sworn in on 22 October 2026.
On 12 June 2026, Bishop announced the appointments of the following District Court judges: Maurice John Casey in Timaru, Bryony Ann Millar in Dunedin, Tiffany Mary Cooper in Auckland, and Erin Lee Woolley in Auckland.
On 15 May 2026, Bishop announced the appointment of Kerryn Beaton as a judge of the Dunedin District Court, to be sworn in on 2 July 2026.
On 20 March 2026, the government announced the appointments of the following District Court judges: Prudence McGuire, based in Palmerston North, and Christopher Macklin, based in Nelson.
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