For 100 years, local JPs have been quietly serving the community, witnessing signatures, certifying documents and providing an accessible, free service to the public.
This Saturday the association will mark the occasion with a special dinner at the Brydone Hotel to honour past and present JPs, with guest speakers including outgoing Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher, also a JP, and a national federation representative.
Association president Inday Bungard said the centenary was both a celebration of history and a recognition of ongoing service.
“For a century, JPs in North Otago have been part of everyday life here, from helping families with official paperwork to supporting those navigating important legal processes.
"This proud milestone is a tribute to all who have served, past and present,” she said.
In early New Zealand communities, JPs were often the most accessible form of law and order, especially in rural areas.
In North Otago, the association was formally established in 1925, bringing together local JPs to share knowledge, maintain high standards and ensure the community had reliable access to justice services.
In the early years, JPs here were called upon not only to witness documents but also to preside over minor court hearings, conduct inquests and administer oaths, Mrs Bungard said.
While many judicial functions have since shifted to the courts, the voluntary service ethos remains at the heart of the role.
There are currently 43 serving JPs in the district.
Whether certifying a passport application, taking a statutory declaration or witnessing an affidavit, JPs make it easier for people to get essential tasks done without cost or delay, Mrs Bungard said.
Heather Newbury, the youngest JP in the organisation at 48, said the event was "quite significant" for North Otago.
"This is acknowledgement of the amazing work a lot of these JPs do," she said.
JP services are offered at the Oamaru Public Library and the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), and often in the homes of local JPs, Ms Newbury said.
Mrs Bungard said they were proud of the association’s history, but were also committed to serving the needs of the community for the next 100 years.
Ms Newbury, who has been a JP in North Otago since 2023, said the spectrum of availability had also broadened.
"We also have cultural diversity now, which is offered to people in their own communities or in their own cultural languages, and that's really important too."
Ms Newbury, who sits on the JPs North Otago executive committee, says the organisation was looking at "succession planning".
"We need to look at how we still provide the support to the community, given that life is changing for a lot of people," she said.
For more information about the centenary or to learn how to find a local JP, visit https://justiceofthepeace.org.nz/
