Environment and Planning

Multi-disciplinary expertise for complex legal questions

New Zealand’s planning and framework is more complex than it has ever been. It faces competing pressures to enable housing and economic growth and address a growing infrastructure deficit, while also addressing ongoing environmental degradation and climate change. Ongoing continuous legislative and policy reform adds to the complex landscape.

We help our clients meet these challenges and seize the opportunities by helping them to understand the changing legal, regulatory and political frameworks around urban planning, infrastructure development and environmental issues like freshwater quality and climate change. Our multi-disciplinary team has the ability and the depth to take on the big projects, and the complex legal questions. We're known for the way we collaboratively partner with our clients, our industry knowledge, commercial nous and our understanding of our clients' broader strategic objectives.

Experience

We work on consenting projects, including across the blue-chip development and infrastructure sectors throughout New Zealand. We bring together highly experienced partners and energetic thinkers to help clients manage their development, planning and environmental issues.

Consenting, planning and development

Our multi-disciplinary team assists clients undertaking major infrastructure, commercial and residential developments to get the approvals they need. Our recent experience includes advising:

numerous clients on private plan changes, including Fonterra (Mangaone Precinct, Te Rapa North Industrial Zone and Waitoa), Summerset (Masterton and Paraparaumu Villages), Drury South Ltd (Drury South Precinct), Fletcher Residential (Remuera Precinct), Arvida (Mahurangi Takapou Precinct); and
consenting of major consenting projects, including for Summerset, Woolworths, Stevenson Group, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, Kings Quarry, Manukau Quarries LP, Helios Energy, and Harmony Energy.

Infrastructure

Our recent experience includes advising major infrastructure providers on significant projects including:

Waste Management on landfill projects, including the Auckland Regional Landfill.
Auckland International Airport on its proposed second runway.
Nelson Airport on its proposed runway extension.
KiwiRail on developing a new intermodal freight hub near Palmerston North.
Watercare on numerous major network upgrades including the Central Interceptor.
Port of Auckland on numerous projects, including its recent channel deepening project.

Fast-track

We are the most experienced team in New Zealand in relation to fast-track consenting. We have been or are involved in dozens of projects through the various fast-track processes, acting for the Applicant, invited parties, iwi authorities or other key stakeholders.

Our extensive experience is across a range of fast-track projects, covering sectors such as large-scale solar, ports, transport infrastructure, quarries, geothermal energy, retirement villages, mixed use, residential and industrial developments.

Our team was actively involved in shaping the COVID-19 fast-track legislation, and Daniel Minhinnick and Kristen Gunnell have chaired expert consenting panels. We know the process inside out and how to get a project across the line.

Public Works Act

Our team of highly experienced Public Works Act experts advise a range of public and private sector clients on Public Works Act processes and issues. 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.

Freshwater

Often a contentious regulatory topic and the subject of significant proposed regulatory reform, our team guides our clients through the legal, regulatory and political challenges of New Zealand's changing water landscape. Our recent experience includes advising on major water infrastructure projects, including Watercare's Central Interceptor; acting for 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 Three Waters legislation.

Energy and Renewables

We have significant experience in the Energy and Renewables space, including the consenting of a range of renewables projects through both traditional RMA and fast-track consenting processes. Read more about our Energy and Renewables expertise here.