The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa and the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) are seeking expressions of interest from those who have arbitration or mediation experience, and who wish to be considered for appointment by either organisation. In particular we are looking for those with specialist legal, technical and cultural expertise.
The detailed appointment process through AMINZ:
AMINZ wishes to ensure that, in fulfilling its statutory role as the default appointing authority under the Arbitration Act 1996 (Section 6A and Schedule 1, Articles 11(3) to (6)), it has the ability to appoint from a wide range of suitable appointees. This is of particular importance where specialist legal, technical or cultural expertise is required.
AMINZ considers that there are likely to be members of the Law Society (who are not also members of AMINZ) that have the expertise to be appointed as arbitrators under the Arbitration Act 1996.
It also requires any applicant who wishes to be added to the list of potential appointees under the Arbitration Act 1996 to have the same level of expertise that is required under the AMINZ Rules, for a member to be appointed to the AMINZ Arbitration Panel. The requirements are set out here.
If you are interested in applying to be on the AMINZ list of arbitrators for appointment under the Arbitration Act 1996, please complete the application form here.
Further information about the appointment process:
When AMINZ is asked to make an appointment, it follows a process set out in its published Appointments Policy (which involves convening an Appointments Advisory Panel of 2 to 3 members to help suggest appropriate candidates for the appointment). The Appointments Advisory Panel is required to have regard to set criteria which include experience, expertise, location, party preferences and diversity.
The Law Society appointment process can be found here on our website:
If you are interested in being appointed as a mediator or arbitrator by the President of the Law Society, please email your CV and a brief outline of your specialist skills to appointments@lawsociety.org.nz for inclusion in our database.