Commissioner appointed

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 5

Commissioner appointed

PA Wellington A former director of the Government’s research unit, Ms Rae Julian, has been appointed a Human Rights Commissioner, the Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, said yesterday.

Ms Julian’s appointment is for five years and will take effect from February.

A commissioner, Ms Diana Shand, had been reappointed for another 18 months, he said. Ms Julian has a back-

ground in teaching and has a bachelor of arts degree as well as a diploma of teaching and a diploma of education. She taught in Hamilton, London and Te Awamutu until 1972 when she took up journalism and social research. In 1975 she became a J. R. McKenzie Fellow and the next year joined the then Opposition Research Unit at Parliament. She became deputy director of the unit in 1983 and director in 1984.

Ms Julian left the unit in September to make an evaluation for the Education Department of the role of community preschool workers and special pre-school classes at primary schools.

Ms Shand, who has been a commissioner since February 1984, has special responsibilities for women’s affairs and the commission’s work in the South Island.

Her reappointment, on a part-time basis, will take effect from June 1.