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Daniel Minhinnick
Partner
Auckland
Environment and Planning
+64 9 367 8714 DDI [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-minhinnick-61937717/
Profile Experience Insights Recognition
Profile

Daniel is an experienced resource management specialist, who specialises in assisting clients in securing approvals for major infrastructure and development projects. His expertise has led him to assist on a variety of projects including residential, retail, commercial and industrial, and a wide variety of infrastructure projects, including ports, transport and renewable energy.  He has significant experience in coastal and offshore projects, along with issues in relation to freshwater.  Daniel has vast experience in relation to fast-track consenting, having been involved in numerous projects for a wide range of clients.

Daniel is the firm's National Practice Group Chair for Environment and Planning. Daniel has a wide range of experience in contentious and non-contentious environmental and planning matters. He is recognised in the New Zealand market as a talented resource management litigator. Daniel offers advice for a range of clients on district and regional planning matters and legislative reform, local government matters and Public Works Act issues.

Related Expertise

Agribusiness & Food
Energy & Renewables
Infrastructure & Projects
Mining, Oil & Gas
Climate Change
Public Works Act
Māori Legal
Experience

As well as considerable Court experience on resource management matters, Daniel has advised on a range of matters of public and corporate significance, including:

  • Drury South – advising on the development of the Drury South Precinct (a major greenfield development including 45 ha of residential land, 145 ha of industrial land and 90 ha of public open space), which has involved multiple plan changes, securing a special housing area, obtaining resource consents, and negotiation of infrastructure and project agreements.
  • Advising Summerset Group on the consenting of its retirement villages across New Zealand.
  • Extensive fast-track consenting experience having been involved in more than 15 fast-track consent projects.
  • Assisting Eke Panuku to secure consent for a significant mixed-use development in Mount Eden, Auckland.
  • Securing consents for the National Archives Facility in Central Wellington.
  • Advising Fonterra on planning issues for a number of sites across the country, including the Healthy Rivers freshwater plan change, the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme, reverse sensitivity issues at various sites and in relation to Government policy reform.
  • Advising Port of Auckland on the applications for consent for deepening of the freight channel and for the disposal of material into an offshore disposal site.
  • Advising Watercare Services on the St Mary's Bay wastewater and stormwater separation project.
  • Securing resource consents for a new Bunnings warehouse in Queenstown.
  • Queens Wharf Cruise Upgrade – advising Eke Panuku on the consenting of the new infrastructure to allow larger cruise ships to berth at Queens Wharf
  • America's Cup – assisting the Crown in relation to the consenting of the infrastructure and facilities for the 36th America's Cup event.
  • Advising NZ Infra on its consenting and land acquisition strategies for its proposal for Auckland Light Rail.
  • SkyPath – securing the resource consents for the proposed walking and cycling pathway across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Insights

Daniel has also contributed to the following publications:

Recognition

Daniel is the National Practice Group Chair of Russell McVeagh's Environment, Planning and Natural Resources Team and is a member of the New Zealand Law Society's Environmental Law Committee. He is ranked in Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2025 Guide in Environment and Resource Management law; Doyle's 2021 Guide as a leading lawyer in Environment and Resource Management law; the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025 Guide as a Leading Partner in Project and Resource Management law and Transport law; and the IFLR1000 Asia Pacific 2024/25 Guide as 'Highly Regarded' in Project Development. Dan was also named by Best Lawyers® as 'Lawyer of the Year' 2026 for Land Use and Zoning Law, in 2025 for Natural Resources Law, 2023 for Planning Law, and 2021 for Environmental Law.

Client feedback in the Chambers and Partners 2022 Legal Guide emphasised Daniel's expertise in the Environment, Planning and Natural Resources sectors, stating Daniel: 

  • "is an industry leader with an excellent track record on delivering often controversial, nationally significant projects"
  • "is very good at communicating complex issues and providing tailored, responsive commercial advice"
  • "provides advice and advocacy that is strategic, commercial and pragmatic. A real “go-to” to overcome hurdles and challenges in the consenting process."