The long careers of two Otago court registrars brought to an end following a restructure of New Zealand's regional district courts were to be officially recognised by the Ministry of Justice last night.
Oamaru resident Peter Bond, who worked in the Oamaru District Court for 30 years, and former Balclutha registrar Ron MacMillan were to be recognised for their contribution to the district court system at a special function in Wellington last night.
Mr Bond served as a registrar and court manager of the Oamaru District Court for 30 years, after starting his working life with the Ministry of Justice as a school-leaver in Hamilton in 1969.
Last week, the 64 year-old told the Otago Daily Times he was pleasantly surprised to receive a letter from the ministry inviting him and seven other long-serving district court staff from elsewhere in New Zealand to an official function in Wellington.
''I thought my days with the Ministry of Justice were done with, so when I got the letter I thought it was nice.''
However, Mr Bond said he did not know exactly what to expect in Wellington''But the thought's the thing; it's just saying `hey, thank you for all your years of service' - and that's nice.''
Former Balclutha registrar Ron MacMillan (58), who had a 38-year career with the ministry, also attended the function.
''It will be nice to get together with other registrars - both former registrars and those still serving,'' he said last week.
Mr MacMillan worked in the Dunedin court for eight years, then moved to Balclutha in 1982, to a registrar's position which he held until this April.
He said being a registrar in a small town was very rewarding and finishing up in the job was ''bittersweet''.
Two months ago he took up the role of property officer at the Otago Corrections Facility, near Milton.
Following a national restructure of the district court system in April, the Oamaru and Balclutha District Courts were downgraded to ''hearings only'' courts, with no registrar or office functions.
However, while hearings have been temporarily held at the Oamaru Opera House, Balclutha sittings were held in Gore, and will shift to Dunedin from next month. Secretary for Justice Andrew Bridgman was to host the function.
