The Rules of The Wellington District Law Society provide:

6. HONORARY MEMBERS

6.1	Any person resident in the Wellington District Law Society district who is not the holder of a practising certificate as a barrister or solicitor which is for the time being in force but is for the time being enrolled as a barrister and solicitor and who has held practising certificates for a period of 50 years or more in total and has retired from practice shall be and be deemed to be an honorary member of the Society, whether or not that person applies for membership of the Society.
6.2	A member who has retired from practice may be elected by the Council to honorary membership of the Society notwithstanding that such person has held practising certificates for a period of less than 50 years.
6.3	Any honorary member may resign such membership by written notification to the Secretary of the Society.
6.4	In accordance with section 16(2) of the Act, no honorary member of the Society shall be eligible for appointment or election as an officer of the Society or a member of the Council or to vote at any meeting of the Society.

7. HONORARY LIFE ASSOCIATES

7.1	The Society may, on the recommendation of the Council, at any general meeting elect as an honorary life associate any person who has made an outstanding contribution to the law or the Society's affairs and is worthy of election.
7.2	Such person need not have been enrolled as a barrister or solicitor or hold or have held a practising certificate.
7.3	Election as an honorary life associate shall not confer membership of the Society on the person so elected, but the Council may from time to time confer on the person so elected such rights and privileges as it may lawfully confer on a person who is not a member of the Society.