Bronson Blackbourn became New Zealand’s youngest justice of the peace when he was sworn in by Judge Emma Smith in the Dunedin District Court last week.
Why would someone so young want to take on such a role?
"I’m a very community-minded person ... so I thought I’d give it a shot," Mr Blackbourn said.
"It was an easy and selfless way to give back to the community."
He was working in Labour MP Dr David Clark’s office processing application forms when the idea took seed.
It sparked the year-long process undertaken by all prospective JPs.
A letter, containing a nomination form and letters of reference, must first be sent to the local MP, and is then forwarded to the associate minister of justice.
There are interviews, background checks, three weeks of training and an exam, and if you make it through that minefield and the Governor-General gives sign-off, you are sworn in as a JP.
He considered certifying a copy of a mate’s driver’s licence to break the duck but opted against it.
"I’ll do it properly and wait for somebody to come to me," he said.
Otago Justices of the Peace Association president John Campbell marvelled at the maturity of Mr Blackbourn — a former Otago Daily Times Class Act recipient while a pupil at Tokomairiro High School.
"He’s 21 going on 40," he said.
All new JPs are given a mentor and Mr Campbell reckoned he had an easy job with his newest understudy.
"Some take a couple of years [to get the hang of it]," he said.
"Bronson will take about 10 minutes."
