On 15 June 2026, the Auckland Prison capacity increase project expert panel will commence work. The panel consists of:
Philip Maw (Chairperson)
Philip is a highly experienced barrister specialising in environmental, planning, and public law. He graduated with a BSc/LLB from the University of Canterbury in 2004.
Philip is based in Christchurch and provides strategic advice to some of New Zealand's largest local authorities, including in relation to planning and consenting projects of national significance. He is also a highly skilled advocate who has regularly appeared as lead counsel on contentious resource management and public law matters, including on judicial review proceedings in the Supreme Court.
Formerly the National Managing Partner of Wynn Williams, Philip has also chaired a number of governance boards. He is a member of the Resource Management Law Association and has served on its National Committee.
Philip is recommended as a leading lawyer in New Zealand by a number of legal directories, including Doyle’s Guide 2026 for Environment & Resource Management Barristers, Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 for Projects and Resource Management and Chambers and Partners 2025 for Environment and Resource Management.
Karyn Sinclair
Karyn Sinclair is a highly experienced town planner with over 35 years in the industry and has lived in Auckland for more than 30 years.
She has led significant consent applications for major infrastructure projects including the New Zealand Transport Agency Pūhoi to Warkworth project. She has served as an independent commissioner for various councils since 2007.
Karyn was appointed to the Rugby World Cup Authority in 2011.
Karyn served as a past Chair of Te Kōkiringa Taumata – New Zealand Planning Institute's (NZPI) Board and is a Fellow of the NZPI.
Peter Kensington
Peter is an expert resource management practitioner with qualifications and 30 years of practice experience in landscape architecture and planning.
He is a registered member of Tuia Pito Ora – New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects and a full member of Te Kōkiringa Taumata – New Zealand Planning Institute. Originally from Te Papa-i-Oea / Palmerston North, after time in Ōtautahi / Christchurch and Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington, Peter has been based in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland since 1999. He has worked in private practice and for local government and he is currently a director at the consultancy KPLC Limited.
Peter is a certified independent hearing commissioner and he is regularly appointed as a hearing panel member for Auckland Council. Peter is also a duty commissioner for Auckland Council, with delegated authority to determine applications for resource consent.
He has recently been a member of the hearing panel for Far North District Council, making recommendations on the Proposed Far North District Plan. He was also a panel member for Queenstown Lakes District Council, considering the proposed introduction of priority area landscape schedules into the Proposed Queenstown Lakes District Plan.
This is Peter’s fourth appointment as a panel member on a fast-track application, following his involvement as a decision-maker on the application for Drury Quarry, Drury (under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024) and Strathmill, Ōrewa (under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act 2020). He is also a panel member currently considering the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project in Central Otago.
Register of interests
The register records all relevant panel members' interests and is updated, when necessary, throughout the consenting process.