Senior Associate, Auckland
Leigh Ziegler
Contact
- Auckland office
- DDI +64 9 356 1390
- M +64 21 230 6015
Profile
Leigh specialises in resource management, environmental and local government law, with particular expertise in large-scale infrastructure projects and securing approvals under both the Resource Management Act 1991 and fast-track legislation.
Leigh has over 15 years' experience providing strategic advice to local authorities, Crown entities and private clients on a range of issues arising under the Resource Management Act 1991, Public Works Act 1981, Local Government Acts and other key transport legislation. She has extensive experience acting on behalf of requiring authorities in notice of requirement and resource consent applications, at both council level and in the Environment Court. Leigh has also advised on the implications of recent RMA reform, with a particular interest in alternative mechanisms for enabling development, including spatial planning processes and fast-track approval processes.
Leigh advises clients on the environmental aspects of property and commercial transactions and on obligations under public works, official information and local government legislation. She is also an accredited RMA Commissioner (MfE) and teaches the MfE Making Good Decisions course for RMA commissioner accreditation.
- Member of the Resource Management Law Association
- Member of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (The Māori Law Society)
- Accredited RMA Commissioner (MfE)
Work highlights
Advising Auckland Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency
on Te Tupu Ngātahi (the Supporting Growth Alliance) programme, including over 30 notices of requirement for route protection across North West and South Auckland, and resolving Environment Court appeals
Acting for the New Zealand Transport Agency
on several projects including the Papakura to Bombay Project, East West Link Project and Southern Corridor Improvements Project
Acting for various local authorities
in respect of their plan change processes including advising Auckland Council on the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan
Advising Auckland Transport
on consent applications for the Takaanini Level Crossing Removal Programme, involving closure and replacement of five level crossings
Advising on the Auckland Light Rail Project
including providing legal input into business case processes, and managing a multi-disciplinary expert team
Acting for Auckland Council
in relation to City Rail Link designation alteration applications, including resolving submitter issues and appeals through negotiated outcomes and appearing in Environment Court hearings