Resource Management / Environmental / Planning

Our resource management team has a recognised and leading reputation for successfully delivering complex projects in New Zealand.

We provide strategic advice and representation on significant projects, complex and controversial planning review process and environmental due diligence.  Our team has built a reputation on providing an efficient client focused service that consistently achieves results.

We are regularly involved in mediation and other alternative dispute resolution processes, public hearings before local authorities, the Environment Court and the High Court.

Our team has developed a well-established trusted network of strong working relationships with New Zealand’s leading consultants and expert witnesses. We regularly lead large teams of consultants in delivering the outcomes that our clients seek.

We have experience across a wide variety of fields and issues. We are particularly recognised for our retail, minerals and energy, land subdivision and development, and tangata whenua expertise. This includes providing advice in relation to climate change, consenting issues and national environmental protection.

Some of our recent highlights include:

• Woolworths New Zealand Limited
  Obtaining resource consent for several Countdown supermarket developments around New Zealand including coordinating teams of expert witnesses and acting as lead counsel at contentious publicly notified hearings. We have also advised Woolworths on numerous plan formulation and review proceedings across the country including Christchurch, Dunedin, Kapiti and Selwyn.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
  Advising and representing Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in the development of the Marlborough Environmental Plan, Dunedin 2GP, Christchurch Replacement Plan and Otago Regional Policy Statement. This has included Environment Court and High Court appeals. During these proceedings our team has advocated on significant cultural matters as well as landscape, biodiversity and freshwater issues.
• Bathurst Resources Limited and BT Mining Limited
  Providing strategic advice on plan-making, resource consenting and enforcement matters in respect of Bathurst Resources and BT Mining’s operations across New Zealand, including the West Coast Regional Policy Statement, Waikato District Plan Review and Waikato Regional Policy Statement. This has involved large scale mediations and negotiations through complex resource management issues relating to environmental bottom lines, offsetting and plan drafting.
• Cardrona Alpine Resort Limited
  Advising Cardrona Alpine Resort Limited on the Proposed Queenstown Lakes District Plan, including in relation to its appeal to the Environment Court. This has involved the successful negotiation and agreement of an enabling regime for an expanded ski resort development in a nationally significant Outstanding Natural Landscape context. We continue to advise Cardrona in relation to ongoing ski field development.
• Bespoke Resort and Hotel Developments
  We have advised a wide number of clients in relation to hotel and resort developments including Blackthorn Limited, Shundi Queenstown Limited, University of Otago and B Property Group.
• Intensification Projects
  We advise a wide range of developers on proposed subdivisions and residential intensification developments across the country.
• Rural Luxury Dwellings
  We have recognised expertise in the resource consenting of luxury residential dwellings in sensitive rural landscapes in New Zealand. We regularly act for international and domestic high-net-worth clients to unlock their luxury home dreams.