Statistics and Applied Probability: A Tribute to Jeffrey J. Hunter

We are delighted to be associated as guest editors with the publication of this special issue of the Journal of Applied Mathematics and Decision Sciences, in honour of our esteemed colleague Professor Jeffrey J. Hunter. This special issue marks Jeff 's retirement from Massey University, although Jeff plans to continue his research. It also acknowledges Jeff 's many contributions to probability and statistics over a long career of 40-plus years, during which he has served his colleagues and university exceedingly well, with the utmost integrity, and has served and promoted his academic discipline in a consistent and highly professional manner, representing the interests of the statistics discipline in many capacities and roles. We have been honoured to have him as a colleague, and given the impressive response of the authors of this issue, we believe this feeling is shared by many in the academic community. Some personal notes from Robert Anderson (Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Sciences, Massey University), Howard Edwards (Programmes Director in the College of Sciences), and Emeritus Professor Shayle Searle are included in this editorial. We are indebted to the Hindawi Publishing Corporation for supporting this initiative, and for their efficient handling of the manuscripts. We thank Tony Norris (Head of our Institute) and Robert McKibbin (former Head) for their helpful suggestions and moral support, and are grateful to Tony and Gaven Martin, for providing financial support via