Whakatāne businesswoman Chanelle Hayward has continued a family legacy of giving back to the community by being sworn in as a Justice of the Peace last month.

The swearing in of Mrs Hayward (nee James) on March 14 marked a milestone for the James family, with her being the fourth generation and first woman to take on the role.

The legacy was started by Mrs Hayward’s great-grandfather Robert Halliday James who took an oath in Palmerston North to serve as a JP, followed by his son Owen Bradburn James, who also served in Palmerston North.

His son Wilson James – Mrs Hayward’s dad – has served the Whakatāne community in more ways than one, as a district councillor and as a JP.

He was president of the local Eastern Bay of Plenty JP Association and is the current coordinator of all JP service desks in the region.

Two of Wilson James’ uncles also served as Justices of the Peace, with Cecil Hook James in Palmerston North and Neville James in Auckland.

Mrs Hayward said she was motivated to continue the family tradition, and she saw becoming a JP as another way to give back to the community.

The Diverse Graphics co-owner said she enjoyed supporting the community through her business in the form of sponsorships, but the JP role provided a different channel to do so.

She has completed her first shift at Whakatāne District Court, adding to her prior training by working alongside experienced JPs.

Mrs Hayward’s focus for the short term will be on the courthouse JP role, but in the very long term, she would look to pick up other roles as she took her hands off the business.

“I'm in it for the long haul; I’m not just going to do it for a year or two. It's pretty special.”

Mrs Hayward has no children, so she said the next passing of the torch would have to be to her brothers’ kids, should they choose to continue in their family’s footsteps.