Peter Skelton

Sir Peter Robert Skelton (born 13 October 1939) is a retired judge of the Environment Court in New Zealand. After retiring from the bench, he taught environmental law at Lincoln University for some years in the early 2000s. From 2010 to 2019, he was a government-appointed commissioner at Environment Canterbury. He was knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours, for services to environmental law.

Early life Skelton was born on 13 October 1939 in Christchurch, New Zealand. His parents were George Arthur Skelton and Helen Ainslie Dundas . He was educated at Cashmere Primary School and then Christ's College, where he was student number 6219. At Christ's, he was awarded colours for tennis and athletics, focussing on middle-distance running. He also played basketball.

In 1978, Skelton was appointed as judge for what was to become the District Court and the Planning Tribunal. He was based in Christchurch and was the first judge of the Planning Tribunal in the South Island; up until then, the Planning Tribunal had been based in Auckland and Wellington only. Skelton retired as a judge in 2000. It is estimated that he made over 1000 judgements in his 22 years on the bench. He retired from teaching in October 2005 after nearly six years in that job. The university later made him an honorary professor. and replaced them with seven commissioners, of which Skelton was one. Skelton was appointed for three terms as a commissioner and served until the 2019 local elections, when the regional council reverted to a fully elected body. Skelton was appointed as the inaugural chief commissioner in 2020; he retired in 2022 after 18 months in the role and was replaced by Environment Court judge Laurie Newhook.

Other activities Skelton has served as an executive member of the National Old People's Welfare Council and a member of the National Marriage Guidance Council. After Skelton's retirement as a judge, the New Zealand Planning Institute awarded him the Alfred O. Glasse Award "for outstanding services to planning other than in a professional capacity" in mid-2000. Later that year, he was appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), for services to environmental law, in the 2001 New Year Honours. In 2013, the New Zealand Resource Management Law Association awarded Skelton the Principal Judge John Bollard Lifetime Commemorative Award, an occasionally presented honour for exceptional individuals. On 8 April 2016, Lincoln University conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Natural Resources on Skelton. In the 2025 New Year Honours, Skelton was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to environmental law.

Personal life In 1962, Skelton married Elizabeth Kathleen Carter (known by her middle name). They were to have two sons and one daughter.

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