Practice News

We have been involved in a range of national processes to develop environmental policy, which give us a good understanding of how Government processes work and what is on the horizon. We also provide advice to Government on resource management and environmental matters.

Judicial review can be used to test the legality of a decision made by a council, government department and many other decision-makers even where there is no right of appeal. Decisions about notification of resource consent applications are an example.

Declarations are a tool for clarifying legal issues, such as the existence or extent of a power or function, or the lawfulness of a plan or of a specific act or omission. They can be very powerful as they tend to focus on matters of legal principle or interpretation and so have wide-ranging implications.

We specialise in planning matters relating to the natural environment - such as indigenous biodiversity, water quality and quantity, and the coastal marine area - but we can assist with any district or regional plan matter.

Whether you are an applicant for resource consent or a submitter, we can assist you to obtain the necessary approvals or to effectively convey the outcome that you seek on a consent decision.