Education
He graduated with a Bachelor and an Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University of Wellington in 1964.
He graduated with a Bachelor and an Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University of Wellington in 1964.
He holds honorary doctorates from Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University and the University of Waikato. Durie was the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court from 1980–1998 and Chairman of the Waitangi Tribunal from 1980–2004 and Law Commissioner. In 1998 he was appointed to the High Court.
In 2009, Durie was appointed by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson to chair the Ministerial taskforce on the Foreshore and Seabed Acting.
He retired from the High Court in 2004, at which point he was the longest-serving member of the New Zealand judiciary.