
Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wel ington
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[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
19 September 2025
John Luke
[FYI request #32163 email]
Our ref: OIA 125531
Tēnā koe John
Official Information Act request: International Centre for Settlement of Investment
Disputes (ICSID)
Thank you for your email of 29 August 2025 requesting, under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act), information relating to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment
Disputes (ICSID). Specifically, you asked for:
On your reply- Our ref: OIA 124124, I noted that the International Centre for Settlement
of Investment Disputes (ICSID) is listed as one of your boards/committees. I would be
grateful if you could kindly provide the following information:
1. The names of the current appointees to the ICSID board/committee. The duration
of their current term (start and end dates).
2. A brief biography or summary of each appointee’s professional background and
experience.
3. A sample of the appointment letter issued to appointees.
4. Details of their remuneration or pay rate, if applicable.
5. Information on how public nominations were invited during the most recent
appointment round (e.g., public notices, calls for expression of interest, etc.).
For ease of reference, I have numbered your questions and provided responses below.
1. The names of the current appointees to the ICSID board/committee, and the duration of
their current term (start and end dates).
Please see Table 1 attached, which details the current New Zealand appointees, together
with the dates of their appointments and expiry.
You wil note that Sir Terence Arnold KC, Dr Amokura Kawharu, and Dr Penelope Ridings
are recorded as current appointees even though their formal terms have expired. This is
because, under Article 15 of Article 1 of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment
Disputes, members continue in office until they are reappointed, or their successor is
appointed.
2. A brief biography or summary of each appointee’s professional background and
experience.
• Sir Terence Arnold KC is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and
Solicitor-General (2000–2006). He later served on the Court of Appeal and Supreme
Court and chaired the Operation Burnham Inquiry (2018–2020). He is currently in
practice as a barrister.
• Dr Amokura Kawharu is the President of the New Zealand Law Commission since
May 2020. She has lectured at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law since 2005,
specialising in arbitration, including investment treaty and international commercial
arbitration.
• Dr Alan McLachlan KC was called to the Bar in 1984, appointed Queen’s Counsel in
2007. Associate Member of Bankside Chambers (Auckland) and Door Tenant at
Essex Court Chambers (London), specialising in public/private international law and
arbitration.
• Dr Penelope Ridings is an international lawyer with extensive experience in stat
representation and legal diplomacy. Former Chief International Legal Adviser at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Ambassador.
• Dr Campbell Walker KC is a Barrister specialising in commercial law, insurance,
public/administrative law, property, trusts and estates, and arbitration. Formerly an
associate at Shearman & Sterling (Paris and London) and a partner at Gilbert/Walker
(Auckland). Appointed Queen’s (now King’s) Counsel in 2017.
3. A sample of the appointment letter issued to appointees.
Please find attached a sample of the appointment letter issued to ICSID appointees.
4. Details of their remuneration or pay rate, if applicable.
The fees of conciliators and arbitrators are paid directly by the parties to a dispute. Where
parties cannot agree on the fees, the ICSID Commission or Tribunal may set fees within the
limits prescribed by ICSID’s Administrative Council. The Ministry does not hold information
on the applicable fees.
5. Information on how public nominations were invited during the most recent appointment
round.
For the most recent appointment round, MFAT sought expressions of interest through:
• Notices on the MFAT website and social media (Facebook and Twitter), and
• Circulation of the advertisement to relevant stakeholders and academics.

Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
Of icial Information Act responses | New Zealand Ministry of Justice.
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman under section 28 of the Act. The Office of the Ombudsman may be contacted
by phone on: 0800 802 602, by email at: [email address], or via the
webform:
Make a complaint (for members of the public) | Ombudsman New Zealand
Nāku noa, nā
Wayne Newall
Manager, Appointments and Specialist Functions
Table 1: shows the current New Zealand appointees, with their dates of appointment and
expiry.
Name
Date of original
Expiry date of present
appointment
term
ACT 1982
Sir Terence Arnold KC
4 December 2018
14 May 2025
Dr Amokura Kawharu
3 December 2024
14 May 2025
Dr Alan McLachlan KC
20 June 2007
2 September 2027
Dr Penelope Ridings
4 December 2018
14 May 2025
Dr Campbell Walker KC
3 September 2021
2 September 2027
INFORMATION
RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL