To be a Companion of the Queen's Service Order:
MACLEAN, Judge Neil
For services to the judiciary
Judge Neil MacLean was appointed as the first Chief Coroner of New Zealand under the Coroners Act 2006 and served from 2007 to 2015, overseeing two of New Zealand's biggest mass casualty events: the Pike River mine disaster and the Christchurch earthquakes.
Judge MacLean worked closely with the government in relation to the appointment and disposition of Coroners throughout New Zealand. He also liaised closely with professional and community groups, to ensure, the successful implementation and execution of the Coronial Services of New Zealand in 2007. He has spoken as Chief Coroner overseas in London, Brussels and Bath and in a number of cities in Australia. He was in practice in Christchurch between 1968 and 1993. He served as a Christchurch Coroner from 1978 to 1993 before being appointed to the District Court Bench. He was then sole resident judge at Gisborne for six years before transferring to Hamilton. After his appointment as a judge he continued to be involved in Inquests, usually for complex matters or where another Coroner had a conflict of interest. Judge MacLean was President of the Asia Pacific Coroners Society in 2010.