Sir Bruce Houlton Slane KNZM CBE (10 August 1931 – 7 January 2017) was a New Zealand public servant and lawyer. He served as New Zealand's first Privacy Commissioner from 1992 to 2003.[1]
Early life and family
editSlane was educated at Takapuna Grammar School and Auckland University, graduating with a law degree in 1957.[1] He married Penelope Slane (née Grant), with whom he had three children.[2] The Slanes separated around 2001.[3]
Career
editHe became a partner at the law firm run by Jock Cairns, later known as Cairns Slane Fitzgerald and Phillips.[3] He was involved in the broadcasting industry as a radio commentator under the pseydonym "Bruce Christopher" and as chair of the Broadcasting Tribunal from 1977 to 1990.[1] He additionally served as president of the New Zealand Law Society from 1982 to 1985.[4]
Slane was appointed New Zealand's first Privacy Commissioner in April 1992, under the Privacy Commissioner Act 1991. He assisted the government with the development of the Privacy Act 1993, which provided for the continuation of his role and outlined its functions at a time when the advent of computers increased risks to personal information. Slane held office until 2003, when he retired.[2]
Honours and awards
editIn the 1985 New Year Honours, Slane was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his service as president of the New Zealand Law Society.[5] He was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to personal and human rights and the law, in the 2003 New Year Honours.[6] He accepted the redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009, following the reintroduction of titular honours by the New Zealand government.[1]
Family and later years
editSir Bruce Slane died on 7 January 2017, ten days after his wife Lady Penelope Slane died on 28 December 2016.[7]
In 2018 and 2023, milestone anniversary years of the Privacy Act 1993, Slane has been remembered in the Sir Bruce Slane memorial lecture.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Sir Bruce Slane dies, aged 85". Radio New Zealand. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ a b "New Year Honours: Retirement looms but work far from finished". NZ Herald. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ a b Hoyle, Craig; Shuttleworth, Kate (8 January 2017). "Children of former Privacy Commissioner Sir Bruce Slane mourn his death, just 10 days after their mother died". Stuff. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand Law Society Presidents". New Zealand Law Society. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "No. 49970". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1984. p. 2.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2003". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "Wife of New Zealand's first Privacy Commissioner Sir Bruce Slane died 10 days before him". The New Zealand Herald. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ Winkelmann, Helen (November 2018). Sir Bruce Slane Memorial Lecture (PDF) (Speech). Wellington. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Sir Bruce Slane Memorial Lecture 2023". www.privacy.org.nz. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2024.