From 1841 to 1957, the chief justice was the indisputable senior member of the New Zealand judiciary, and served on the old Supreme Court (now called the High Court of New Zealand).
 Prior to 1957, all judges of the Supreme Court sat as members of the Court of Appeal.
  In 1957, a permanent Court of Appeal was established which was headed by a President responsible for the running of that court.
 The role of the chief justice became akin to that of the current chief High Court judge, responsible for the operation of the High Court (comprising the largest part of the senior judiciary) but not having control over the senior New Zealand–based appellate court (being the Court of Appeal).
 
This changed in 2004 with the abolition of the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and its replacement by the Supreme Court of New Zealand as the court of last resort for New Zealand.
 When the new Supreme Court was established, the chief justice became head of that court.
From 1841 to 1957, the chief justice was the indisputable senior member of the New Zealand judiciary, and served on the old Supreme Court (now called the High Court of New Zealand).  Prior to 1957, all judges of the Supreme Court sat as members of the Court of Appeal.   In 1957, a permanent Court of Appeal was established which was headed by a President responsible for the running of that court.  The role of the chief justice became akin to that of the current chief High Court judge, responsible for the operation of the High Court (comprising the largest part of the senior judiciary) but not having control over the senior New Zealand–based appellate court (being the Court of Appeal).  
This changed in 2004 with the abolition of the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and its replacement by the Supreme Court of New Zealand as the court of last resort for New Zealand.  When the new Supreme Court was established, the chief justice became head of that court.
Chief Justice of New Zealand