Special Counsel, Wellington
Thaddeus Ryan

Contact
- Wellington office
- DDI +64 4 498 7335
- M +64 21 840 457
Profile
Thad specialises in resource management and Māori law, assisting developers, councils and other stakeholders to navigate complex and contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) and related consenting and planning processes.
Thad has a particular specialty in RMA authorisations for large infrastructure projects. Thad advises clients on all aspects of the consenting process and related processes for other environmental consents and the acquisition of land. He is experienced in working with technical experts and project team members to oversee the production of technical reports, statements of evidence and other supporting documentation necessary for consenting processes for large-scale infrastructure projects.
Thad also advises on regional and district plan processes, advising councils and submitters, including through Environment Court mediation and appeals.
Thad has appeared at council level hearings and in front of Boards of Inquiry, the Environment Court, the High court and the Court of Appeal. He regularly attends Environment Court facilitated mediation of appeals on RMA consents and plans.
- Member of the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA)
Work highlights
Advising Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
on a range of significant transport developments, including the Ōtaki to north of Levin highway, Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway, Te Ara o te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass project, Te Ara Tupua: Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-one shared path project, and the Petone to Grenada link road
Advising Gisborne District Council
on its replacement Regional Freshwater Plan, including through Environment Court mediation and litigation processes in respect of all appeals on the Freshwater Plan
Advising Christchurch City Council
on planning matters, including the implementation of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development through the District Plan
Acting for the Waikato River Authority
in respect of Environment Court appeals on Plan Change 1 to the Waikato Regional Plan
Acting for the Crown
on the proposed Christchurch Replacement Plan process, and appearing in front of the Independent Hearings Panel considering the proposed Plan
Advising Contact Energy
on a range of renewable electricity generation projects
Alternate contacts
Paul Beverley
Partner, Wellington
Paul was the National Chair of Buddle Findlay from 2017 to March 2020. Paul specialises in Māori Law, Treaty settlement negotiations…
- DDI +64 4 462 0406
- M +64 21 276 9322
David Allen
Partner, Wellington
David specialises in all aspects of resource management, environmental and natural resources law and local government law…
- DDI +64 4 462 0423
- M +64 21 955 744
David Randal
Partner, Wellington
David specialises in resource management, environmental and Māori law. He has advised clients at the heart of intensive RMA…
- DDI +64 4 462 0450
- M +64 21 742 863