Peter Boshier

Peter Francis Boshier (born 16 March 1952) is a New Zealand Lawyer and Judge. He served as the Principal Judge of the Family Court from 2004 to 2012. He was Chief Ombudsman from 2015 until he retired from that role on 16 March 2024, his 72nd birthday.

Biography
Boshier was born in Gisborne on 16 March 1952. He was educated at Gisborne Boys' High School, and went on to study at Victoria University of Wellington, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree in 1975.

Boshier practised law in Wellington, and his judicial career began in 1988 when he was appointed a District Court judge, specialising in family court matters. He was appointed principal Family Court judge on 3 May 2004, and remained in that role until 10 December 2012, when he became an acting Family Court judge for a two-year term.

After serving as a Law Commissioner, Boshier was appointed Chief Ombudsman for a five-year term on 10 December 2015. He was subsequently reappointed for a second five-year term in 2020, but will relinquish the role on 16 March 2024 when he reaches the statutory retirement age of 72.

Boshier was president of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts in the United States from July 2015 to July 2016, the first New Zealander in this role. He was also active in the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), serving as the Australasia and Pacific regional president in 2019, and as second vice-president of the IOI in 2022.

Honours and awards
In 2009, Boshier received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Victoria University of Wellington.