Environment and planning

Overview

We have one of New Zealand's leading practices advising on the Planning Act, Natural Environment Act, and resource management issues, with specialist teams in each of our three offices.

Our lawyers are specialists in all aspects of environmental legislation and regulation, and we advise clients on the full spectrum of planning and consenting processes ranging, from large infrastructure projects to national and local policy development. Our practice includes Conservation Act, Wildlife Act and Māori law, as well as advising on central and local government processes.

Our team is known for its strong infrastructure expertise and ability to work effectively with clients and their consultant teams on large projects.

Planning Act and Natural Environment Act

We are developing a series of resources to help our clients navigate the new Planning Act and Natural Environment Act regime as it progressively develops over the next three to four years. We are helping clients navigate the transition from the Resource Management Act (RMA) regime, including to understand the implications of changes with immediate effect (such as the removal of 'out-of-scope' effects from consideration).

Spatial planning is a critical facet of the new system. We have extensive experience in spatial planning from past RMA processes around New Zealand and can assist councils, infrastructure providers, and others to ensure the new spatial plans are fit-for-purpose.

Fast-track Approvals Act expertise

We have extensive experience in fast-track approval processes. We have acted for applicants on numerous fast-track applications, have advised local authority participants, and have chaired panels considering several fast-track applications.

For more information on our fast-track expertise, download our credentials.

Market recognition

"The team is amazing. Technically excellent and smart, with wonderful personal skills. Organised, well-resourced, accommodating and available. I have experienced excellent service and find the team to be motivated, genuinely interested in the outcome, trustworthy, robust, and very skilled." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

"A strength of the team is how they create an inclusive solutions focused team dynamic incorporating other technical disciplines, that strives to achieve outcomes that exceed client expectations." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

"Practical, timely and well articulated advice on technically complex resource management matters." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific.

Te Tupu Ngātahi (Supporting Growth) won the Core Values Award for Planning at the IAP2 Australasia conference in Sydney.

Te Tupu Ngātahi received the Projects Award at the RMLA awards in 2023 and was a finalist for the International Award for Planning Excellence at the Royal Town Planning Institute Awards in London.

Experience

Sector/Expertise

Work highlights

Advising Lightsource bp and Contact Energy

on utility-scale solar farm consenting projects, including the Glorit Solar Farm (170MW photovoltaic facility, Kaipara Harbour, north Auckland) under the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 fast-track process, and the Stratford Solar Farm and battery storage project (Stratford, Taranaki) under a two-stage consent process with direct referral to the Environment Court

Advising Auckland Transport

on the Western Line Level Crossings Programme

Together with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport, participating in Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth Alliance

providing legal support across 70 designations to enable future transport interventions to support growth in Auckland over the next 30 years. All designations were successfully obtained through either a council application and hearing process, or fast-track consenting process, with over 50 Environment Court appeals settled without a hearing

Advising Auckland Light Rail

on the consenting for a rapid transport line between Auckland CBD and the airport

Advising NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

on the SH1 Wellington Improvements Project

Advising Contact Energy

on its Southland Wind Farm project, successfully consented under the Fast-track Approvals Act, which will be the largest wind farm in New Zealand

Advising Wellington Airport

on the fast-track consenting of major upgrade works to renew the seawall at the southern end of the runway

Advising Queenstown Lakes District Council

on enforcement orders, emergency works, short-term consents (direct referral to the Environment Court) and long-term consents in relation to its discharges from the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant

Advising Westpower

on successfully obtaining resource consent, concession, wildlife and freshwater fishery approvals under the Fast-track Approvals Act for its Waitaha Hydro Project on the West Coast

In addition to projects mentioned above, advising NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi on numerous roading designation and consenting projects including the:

Designation of State Highway 20B in Manukau, Auckland
Widening of SH16 (North West Motorway)
East/West Connection Project
Rangiriri Section of the Waikato Expressway
Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatū Tararua Highway (to replace the section of State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge)
Mount Messenger Bypass Project
Peka Peka to Ōtaki and Ōtaki to North of Levin sections of the Wellington Northern Corridor Roads of National Significance
Wellington Petone to Ngāuranga cycleway project
Russley Road widening and interchange and Northern Arterial and QE2 four lanes (part of the Christchurch Motorways Roads of National Significance and the Caversham road widening project in Dunedin)

In addition to those matters listed above, advising Contact Energy on:

The successful consenting of the Waitahora and Hauāuru mā raki wind farms
Its Geofuture project (Wairakei and Te Mihi future developments), the Te Mihi and Tauhara 2 geothermal power stations
The Stratford thermal peaker stations
The reconsenting of the Clutha River hydro-electricity scheme (the Clyde and Roxburgh dams, and Lake Hawea Control Gates)
The reconsenting of the Wairakei, Pohipi and Ohaakai geothermal power stations
Changes to consent conditions and lapse periods for the Otahuhu Thermal power stations

Advising on housing and urban development plan changes

including acting for private developers to secure significant new housing and commercial development zones in greenfield areas, such as Pokeno in North Waikato and Riverhead in Northwest Auckland. We also advised Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities on the implementation of the National Policy Statement for Urban Development (NPS-UD) and the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process workstream across Auckland, Wellington and Kāpiti

Advising Auckland Council

on the City Rail Link designations (a 3.5 km double track unground rail line underneath Auckland's CBD)

Our team