Peter Trapski

Sir Peter John Trapski (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.

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.

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.