8 May 2026 Media Statement: Chief Justice welcomes judicial appointment

The Chief Justice welcomes the Attorney-General’s announcement today of the appointment of Auckland Barrister Nischal Hasmukhlal (Nick) Malarao as an Associate Judge of the High Court.

Associate Judge Malarao will take up his appointment on 8 June 2026, and will sit in Auckland. He will be sworn in on Wednesday 10 June 2026 at the Auckland High Court.

Biography

Associate Judge Malarao, of Fijian Indian descent, graduated from the University of Auckland in 1999 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce, and began his career at Chapman Tripp.

He joined the Auckland Crown Solicitor’s Office, Meredith Connell, in 2000. In 2002 to 2003, Associate Judge Malarao was based in London, working in the litigation department of Lloyd’s of London.

He returned to Meredith Connell in 2003, appearing in trial and appellate courts on civil and commercial matters and prosecuting criminal trials. Associate Judge Malarao was appointed to the partnership in 2010 and subsequently became a Senior Litigation Partner in the firm’s commercial litigation division, leading a number of different teams. He also led the firm’s regulatory and insolvency practice group and was a member of the firm’s management board.

In July 2024, Associate Judge Malarao moved to the independent bar practising out of Richmond Chambers in Auckland, with expertise across civil, commercial, tax, and regulatory disputes. He specialises in company and insolvency law, particularly in the area of directors’ duties.

Associate Judge Malarao has held several offices within the Kshatriya Society of New Zealand, a community group bringing together all members of the Kshatriya, a sub-group of the Gujarati community that originated from India. He is proficient in Hindi and Gujarati, and maintains a strong connection to Fiji.