Auckland barrister John Walton has been elected President of the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) following the resignation of David Patten.

Mr Patten stepped down from the AMINZ presidency in December 2015 after 18 months in the role.

Mr Walton is a specialist in construction law, an arbitrator and Construction Contracts Act adjudicator, as well as a commercial mediator. Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in February 1984, he was elected AMINZ Vice President in August 2014.

Royden Hindle, an Auckland barrister, has been elected Vice President, filling the position previously held by Mr Walton.