Ngāti Porou, Kai Tahu
Judge Milner was appointed to the Māori Land Court on 22 May 2024.
Judge Milner is one of the resident judges for the Tairāwhiti District of the Māori Land Court hearing cases in Gisborne and Ruatoria.
Before being appointed the Māori Land Court, Judge Milner was Special Counsel at Kāhui Legal, a specialist Māori law firm.
He acted for a number of clients across the country on a wide range of issues affecting whānau, hapū and iwi. He has specialised in Māori legal issues including Māori land law, Treaty settlements, post-settlement governance advice for iwi groups, Waitangi Tribunal and general public law disputes and legislative development.
Judge Milner graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2000 with an LLB and a Bachelor of Arts (Māori) and First Class Honours in Politics and International Relations. Prior to his admission to the bar he was an Assistant Investigating Officer, at the Office of the Ombudsman, and later Research Counsel for the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court (who is also the Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal) and later served as Assistant Registrar of the Waitangi Tribunal.
Judge Milner is also a member of the Waitangi Tribunal.