Convener of External Engagement
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. (2026). Offences and defences: Crimes Act 1961: section 2 (assault, constable, genitalia, to injure, justified, sexual connection), parts 3 (excluding s 23), 4, 7, 8 (ss 182-210a), & 11. In M. Downs (Ed.), Adams on criminal law. Wellington, New Zealand: Thomson Reuters. Chapter in Book - Research
Benson-Pope, H. (2026). Sentencing update: Part one: Sentencing Act 2002, ss 9Q and 9R: The 40% cap on discounts for personal mitigating factors unless “manifestly unjust”. Proceedings of the Criminal Law Conference. (pp. 51-63). The New Zealand Law Society, Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. [Full Paper] Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Walker, N., Benson-Pope, H., & Riley, T. (2025). Respondent's submissions on appeal: Manu Iongi v The King. Submission to the Supreme Court, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/cases/manu-iongi-v-the-king Other Research Output
Benson-Pope, H. (2025). Offences and defences: Crimes Act 1961: section 2 (assault, constable, genitalia, to injure, justified, sexual connection), parts 3 (excluding s 23), 4, 7, 8 (ss 182-210a), & 11. In M. Downs (Ed.), Adams on criminal law. Wellington, New Zealand: Thomson Reuters. Chapter in Book - Research
Gledhill, K., & Benson-Pope, H. (2025). The Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Act 2025. New Zealand Law Journal, (7), 228-231. Journal - Research Article