| Honorific-Prefix: | Judge |
| Peter Boshier | |
| Office: | New Zealand Chief Ombudsman |
| Term Start: | 10 December 2015 |
| Term End: | Present |
| Predecessor: | Beverley Wakem |
| Office1: | Principal Family Court Judge |
| Term Start1: | 3 May 2004 |
| Term End1: | 10 December 2012 |
| Predecessor1: | Patrick Mahony |
| Successor1: | Laurence Ryan |
| Birth Name: | Peter Francis Boshier |
| Birth Date: | 16 March 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Gisborne, New Zealand |
| Alma Mater: | Victoria University of Wellington |
Peter Francis Boshier (born 16 March 1952) is a New Zealand Lawyer and Judge. He served as the Principal Judge of the Family Court from 2004 to 2012. He has been Chief Ombudsman from 2015. He retired from that role on 16 March 2024, his 72nd birthday, as required by law, but was asked to stay on until a replacement is found.
Boshier was born in Gisborne on 16 March 1952.[1] [2] He was educated at Gisborne Boys' High School,[3] and went on to study at Victoria University of Wellington, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree in 1975.[1]
Boshier practised law in Wellington, and his judicial career began in 1988 when he was appointed a District Court judge, specialising in family court matters.[1] He was appointed principal Family Court judge on 3 May 2004, and remained in that role until 10 December 2012, when he became an acting Family Court judge for a two-year term.[4] [5] [6]
After serving as a Law Commissioner, Boshier was appointed Chief Ombudsman for a five-year term on 10 December 2015.[7] [8] He was subsequently reappointed for a second five-year term in 2020,[9] but resigned on 16 March 2024 at statutory retirement age of 72.[2] He has been asked to stay in the role until a replacement is found.
Boshier was president of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts in the United States from July 2015 to July 2016, the first New Zealander in this role.[10] He was also active in the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), serving as the Australasia and Pacific regional president in 2019, and as second vice-president of the IOI in 2022.[11]
In 2009, Boshier received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Victoria University of Wellington.[12]