Raymond Huo is a prominent New Zealand lawyer, former Member of Parliament, and a leading voice in legal reform and multicultural advocacy. He served as Chair of the Justice Committee in the 52nd Parliament and was previously a member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee (49th), Justice Committee (50th), and Commerce Committee (51st).
During his tenure as Chair, he oversaw significant legislative reforms, including the Trusts Act (the most comprehensive revision since 1956), Privacy Act (updated to reflect GDPR standards), International Arbitration Act, Courts Modernisation Bill, and End of Life Choice Bill—totalling 19 major legislative acts.
As an MP, he also introduced two private member’s bills:
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The Defamation (Qualified Privilege Limitation) Amendment Bill
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The Bankruptcy (Dual-Track Reform for Personal Insolvency) Bill,
both of which sparked significant legal discussion and academic interest.
Raymond is the founding trustee of the New Zealand Chinese Language Week (NZCLW) Charitable Trust, which established the second week of September as an annual celebration of Chinese language and culture in New Zealand. By 2024, NZCLW had grown into a nationally recognised multicultural event.
Earlier in his career, he became the first Chinese migrant journalist at The New Zealand Herald since its founding in 1863. He has also served as a visiting professor at institutions such as China University of Political Science and Law.
Raymond is the author or co-author of nine books, including:
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The Power of Law – Classic Case Studies in the Anglo-American Legal Tradition (2019, CUPL Press)
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New Zealand Legal and Tax Guide for Investors and Entrepreneurs (Foreword by former Prime Minister John Key)
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Several bilingual legal dictionaries and memoirs including The Flying Kiwi (Higher Education Press, 2017), Blue Skies and White Clouds (2015), and Four Paths Abroad (Beijing Normal University Press, 2011).
He was featured in the 2014 Yearbook of Who’s Who of China, which highlighted his role in facilitating China–New Zealand cooperation in clean energy and low-carbon technologies. He was awarded the “Green Angel Award” for his efforts to introduce bioethanol technology from New Zealand to China, a project later certified by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
His contributions are also chronicled in The History of Chinese in New Zealand (3 volumes), edited by Du Jidong and published by the Social Sciences Academic Press (Beijing, 2020).