BA/LLB (Hons) (Otago), LLM (NYU)
Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand (2014)
Contact
Email henry.benson-pope@otago.ac.nz
Office 9th Floor – 9N6
Teaching
Henry currently teaches part of the Criminal Law course as well as the Advocacy elective paper.
Research interests
Criminal law, criminal justice, criminal procedure and evidence
Background
After graduating from the University of Otago in 2013, Henry spent two years as a Judge’s Clerk for Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias at the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Between 2016 and 2024, Henry was a Crown Prosecutor at the Office of the Crown Solicitor for Manukau (Kayes Fletcher Walker). Henry is classified as a Senior Crown Prosecutor and has appeared as lead counsel for the Crown in trials in the District Court and High Court (including for charges of murder and manslaughter) and in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
Henry has a Master of Laws from New York University, where he attended as a Fulbright and Hauser Global Scholar and focused on issues in criminal law and criminal justice.
In 2022, Henry completed a full-time, full-immersion course in te reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki (Heke Reo Māori).
Henry grew up in Ōtepoti Dunedin and is happy to be home.
Publications
Benson-Pope, H., & Olsen, Y. (2025, March). Sentencing reforms: The return of three strikes and further restrictions on discretion in sentencing. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) Otago Southland Conference, Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Geddis, A., & Benson-Pope, H. (2025). The many, many problems with the plan to expand citizen's arrest powers. The Spinoff, (27 February). Retrieved from https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/27-02-2025/the-many-many-problems-with-the-plan-to-expand-citizens-arrest-powers Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Benson-Pope, H. (2025). Is Attorney-General v Chapman on borrowed time? New Zealand Law Journal, (1), 14-18, 31. Journal - Research Article
Benson-Pope, H., Olsen, Y., & Geddis, A. (2024, October). Feedback on the discussion document “Improving jury trials timelines”. Submission to the Ministry of Justice, Wellington, New Zealand. [Government Submission]. Other Research Output
Olsen, Y., & Benson-Pope, H. (2024). Why restricting jury trial access will set us back. Newsroom, (31 October). Retrieved from https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/10/31/why-restricting-jury-trial-access-will-set-us-back/ Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles