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Environment and Planning

Our Environment and Planning team helps clients navigate New Zealand’s environmental planning and regulatory framework. We act on some of New Zealand’s largest and most strategically important projects across transport, ports, airports, water, utilities, telecommunications, waste, quarries, retirement living, urban development, energy and infrastructure. Our work often involves significant capital investment, complex regulatory frameworks, long-term environmental considerations and high levels of public, stakeholder, iwi, community and political scrutiny.


We bring together leading expertise in resource management, local government, planning and environmental law with strong commercial and project delivery capability. We work closely with clients, consultants, regulators and other stakeholders to achieve practical, outcome-focused solutions.

Our work involves assisting clients with:

  • Consenting (including fast-track consenting), planning, environmental, land access and regulatory issues across the full project lifecycle, from early strategy and approvals planning through to delivery, operation and future development.

  • Plan reviews and plan change processes, including representing clients through submissions, hearings and appeals on district and regional planning instruments.

  • Policy and legislative reform, including the Natural Environment and Planning Bills, changes to national policy statements and national environmental standards, Fast-track, Local Government Act, Public Works Act and Emergency Management legislative amendments, and engaging with central and local government on new policy frameworks.

  • Archaeological authorities under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 and wildlife approvals under the Wildlife Act 1953.

  • Environmental and planning due diligence for acquisitions, disposals, developments and investments, identifying and managing regulatory risks, consent requirements and compliance obligations.

  • Public Works Act processes and issues, advising public and private sector clients on the acquisition and taking of land for public works.

  • Enforcement matters under the RMA, including abatement notices, enforcement orders, infringement notices and prosecutions, as well as advising on compliance strategies.

  • Development contributions, financial contributions, targeted rates and other local authority charges, including negotiations, objections and challenges.

  • Litigation in the Environment Court and appellate Courts, including appeals, declarations, judicial review and other proceedings relating to planning and resource management matters.

Experience

  • Fast-track approvals - We are one of New Zealand's most experienced teams in fast-track consenting, advising on projects under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 and the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020.

  • RMA approvals - Our multi-disciplinary team assists clients undertaking major infrastructure, renewable energy, commercial and residential developments to get the consents, designations and approvals they need under the RMA and associated legislation. Our recent experience includes advising:

    • Watercare on a number of significant projects including the next phases of the Central Interceptor (a NZ$1.2 billion wastewater interceptor), water quality improvement projects in Central and Northwest Auckland, and the Mangere Biosolids Servicing Project to secure a future solution for Auckland's biosolids following completion of disposal at Puketutu Island.

    • Waste Management on landfill projects, including the Auckland Regional Landfill, one of the largest and most contentious consenting processes in recent times, including the successful defence of High Court appeals.

    • Auckland International Airport on a major extension to the second runway and associated noise contours.

    • Nelson Airport on obtaining the necessary environmental and planning approvals to enable the future northern extension of the airport's main operational runway and associated noise contours.

    • KiwiRail on a number of projects including developing a new intermodal freight hub near Palmerston North, and the City Rail Link, Wiri to Quay Park and Marsden Point Link projects.

    • Port of Auckland on numerous projects, including its recent channel deepening project.

    • Woolworths New Zealand in relation to the consenting of Woolworths supermarkets throughout New Zealand, including major multi-use developments in Christchurch and Auckland, and liquor licensing matters for the national portfolio.

    • Helios Energy on securing consents for its solar farm portfolio, including the 115 MW Edgecumbe Solar Farm, 300 MW Māniatoto Plains Solar Farm and 100 MW Ongaonga Solar Farm.

    • Container Co in obtaining resource consents to develop its Tauranga site for industrial activities, enabling expanded container handling and storage capacity to support growing demand at the Port of Tauranga.

  •  Council plans and private plan change processes – Our team has acted for numerous clients on private plan changes, including Fonterra (Mangaone Precinct, Te Rapa North Industrial Zone and Waitoa), Summerset (Masterton, Rangiora and Paraparaumu Villages), Drury South Ltd (Drury South Precinct), Fletcher Residential (Remuera Precinct) and Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (Pukekohe Gateway Precinct). We also act for a wide range of clients on Council plan reviews and plan changes.

  • Public Works Act - We are experts in the designation process under the RMA that usually precedes, or runs in tandem with, Public Works Act acquisitions. This allows us to provide strategic advice across the spectrum of approvals and property rights required for public works, with a clear focus on the ultimate outcome required. We advise requiring authorities, but also landowners affected by acquisition, pursuing advance acquisition, or in relation to offer back issues.

  • Freshwater - Our recent experience includes advising on major water infrastructure projects; including for Watercare on on a range of major water and wastewater infrastructure development projects, Tasman District Council in relation to the Waimea Community Dam, Fonterra and DairyNZ on the Healthy Rivers Plan Change and High Court appeals regarding the Southland Land and Water Plan; and a range of clients in relation to the legislative and policy reform under the RMA and Local Water Done Well legislation.