Bankside Chambers members Janette Campbell, Matanuku Mahuika, Polly Pope and Sam Lowery have been appointed King’s Counsel in the 2026 round of appointments.
Attorney-General Chris Bishop confirmed the appointment of King’s Counsel today: “This year’s appointees bring a broad range of expertise, spanning criminal and commercial litigation, environmental and resource management law, employment, Māori legal issues and international law.”
This marks the second time four Bankside barristers have been appointed silk. In 2013, Philip Skelton KC, Peter Watts KC, Judge Kate Davenport and Christine Meechan KC were appointed Queen’s Counsel.
“On behalf of chambers, we congratulate Janette, Matanuku, Polly and Sam on reaching this significant milestone,” says Bankside board chair Philip Skelton KC. “Their appointments recognise their expertise, commitment to the law and the contribution they have made to the profession.”
Bankside also congratulates the eight other barristers appointed King’s Counsel in this round: Karen Radich, Matthew Harris, Kirsten Gray, Tim Smith, Kerry Cook, Rob Kirkness, Isaac Hikaka and Annabel Maxwell-Scott.
Earlier this year on 13 March 2026, former Bankside member Anna Adams KC was appointed silk following her appointment as Solicitor-General and Chief Executive of the Crown Law Office.
Janette Campbell
Janette Campbell has specialised in all aspects of resource management law for over 30 years. Her depth of experience means she is highly regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading experts on the topic.
Throughout this time Janette has represented clients in resource management matters in front of councils, parliamentary select committees, the Environment Court, District Court, High Court, as well as in mediations and direct negotiation. She has acted for both prosecuting agencies and for defendants in criminal prosecutions of environmental offending. Janette is known for her ability to cut through bureaucracy to get straight to the core of the matter. She is respected for her sound, strategic counsel and is adept at devising effective, sustainable solutions that reduce the potential for conflict and litigation.
In 2024, Janette chaired the Expert Advisory Group on resource management reform.
Matanuku Mahuika
Matanuku Mahuika (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa) has more than 30 years' experience as a lawyer advising on a wide range of corporate, commercial, Treaty of Waitangi, Māori land and administrative law issues. He was partner at Walters Williams & Co and in-house counsel at the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission before becoming the founding partner of Kahui Legal, a specialist boutique firm for Māori legal issues.
Matanuku has also acted as a Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiator and worked directly on various items of law reform. Matanuku has appeared as counsel in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on numerous occasions.
Amongst other roles, he is currently Deputy Chair of Callaghan Innovation and a Board member of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. His former roles include Deputy Chair of Aotearoa Fisheries Limited and Inaugural Chair of the Ministry Standards Commission for the Anglican Church.
Polly Pope
Polly Pope is a highly regarded commercial litigator and dispute resolution specialist. Polly joined the independent bar after over a decade as partner at preeminent law firm Russell McVeagh, including a term as Chair of the Partnership.
Polly has expertise in commercial, insolvency, construction, and financial regulatory enforcement disputes and investigations. Polly has been trusted to solve complex problems for clients including listed companies, banks, insolvency practitioners, and public entities.
Polly is a member of Bankside Singapore and assists New Zealand companies to pursue international arbitration to resolve disputes.
Sam Lowery
Sam Lowery acts in commercial, regulatory and criminal cases. He has practised since 2004 and has particular expertise as trial counsel. Sam is one of few counsel equally at home in the commercial and criminal jurisdictions, with a record of success in both.
Sam’s commercial practice is varied, and includes negligence, fraud, breach of contract, shareholder disputes and property claims. Sam is regularly instructed on applications for urgent relief, including freezing orders and interim injunctions. In regulatory matters, Sam has prosecuted and defended cases involving fraud, insider trading, cartel conduct, obstruction of justice and health and safety.
In the criminal jurisdiction, Sam is a former Crown Prosecutor and has conducted a large number of jury and judge-alone trials. Sam is often instructed by targets of Police or regulatory investigations and has an established record of assisting clients to avoid charges or enforcement action.
In the Media
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/kings-counsel-appointments-2026
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