Gain high-level insights into the evolving landscape of reform of environmental and planning law through the Fast track and RMA reforms in this two-part advanced webinar series, chaired by a sitting judge of the Environment Court of New Zealand. With expert oversight and authoritative commentary, this program offers a rare opportunity to engage with the RMA reform process at a strategic level. Stay ahead of sweeping changes to New Zealand’s environmental law framework with this two-part advanced webinar series. Designed for legal professionals, planners, and environmental advisors, this program delivers timely analysis of key developments in the Resource Management Act (RMA) reform process. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay at the forefront of environmental law reform in New Zealand.
Description
Attend and earn 2 CPD hours
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
Fast Track Update: Overview of How Applications Have Been Progressed or Declined
Monday, 6 October 2025
Explore how fast-track consenting applications are being handled in practice under the Fast Track reforms. Understand the key factors influencing decisions to approve or decline and assess the practical lessons emerging from recent cases. Learn to interpret recent outcomes, assess approval criteria, and identify key risk factors for applicants.
Fast Track Update: Guidance on How Applications Have Been Progressed or Declined
- Brief introduction to the FTAA
- The practical side of the process: step 1 referral applications and step 2 substantive applications
- New legal issues arising and how panels and the court have dealt with them
- Looking forward: nature and number of projects looking to use the process; appeals
Presented by Madeleine Wright, Barrister, Mills Lane Chambers and Alex Devine, Senior Associate, Ellis Gould
Learning Objective:
- Receive guidance on how Fast Track applications have been progressed or declined to date
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Chair:
His Hon Judge Hassan, Environment Court of New Zealand
Presenters
His Hon Judge Hassan, Environment Court of New Zealand
Judge Hassan was born in Invercargill. He was appointed to the Environment Court and District Court in 2013 and is based in Christchurch. Shortly after his appointment, he served as Deputy Chair of the Independent Hearings Panel for the post-earthquakes’ Christchurch Replacement District Plan. Over recent years, his Environment Court roster has been largely in the Queenstown, Central Otago, Mackenzie, Nelson and Marlborough areas. Judge Hassan has significant law reform and other public sector experience. Initially, that was as in-house solicitor for the Ministry of Works and Development in Dunedin. Following a move to the Ministry for the Environment in Wellington, he worked on the Resource Management Law Reform, under both Labour and National administrations, in policy and instructing solicitor roles. He was legal adviser to the Randerson Review Group and principal instructing solicitor to Parliamentary Counsel on the enactment of the Resource Management Act 1991. Judge Hassan was a partner at law firm Chapman Tripp for approximately 17 years, specialising in resource management and environmental law. His clients included infrastructure providers, the Crown and government agencies, property developers, large and SME industries, local government and community groups. He was part of a Ministerial advisory panel on RMA reforms and was appointed by the Local Government and Environment Select Committee to audit the drafting of the Resource Management Amendment Act 2009. Judge Hassan was an original co-author of Brookers Resource Management.
Madeleine Wright, Barrister, Mills Lane Chambers
Madeleine is a barrister specialising in environmental and resource management law. She is an experienced litigator, appearing in courts of all levels. She has a diverse practice, assisting developers, industry, farmers, government, community groups, and environmental NGOs. She is frequently involved with matters in which indigenous biodiversity features. Madeleine is well-acquainted with fast-track processes, having provided advice on the various fast-track bills, and to applicants, those providing feedback on fast-track projects.
Alex Devine, Senior Associate, Ellis Gould
Alex works with private and public sector clients on a wide range of environmental law, planning, and local government matters. She has particular expertise in resource consent applications, designations, private plan changes, district plan and policy development, and environmental due diligence for commercial transactions. Alex provides strategic advice on resource management processes and complex projects across New Zealand. She regularly represents clients in local authority hearings and alternative dispute resolution forums, and has litigation experience at all levels of the Court system. Alex is currently working on a number of fast-track projects, advising clients at various stages of the fast-track consenting process.
Register for this session only
New Dual Act Approach Replacing the RMA and Changes to the National Direction Package
Monday, 13 October 2025
Unpack the major structural shift from the RMA to the new dual-Act framework. Understand how the dual acts will interact, and what the updated National Direction package signals for planning, compliance, and legal practice.
Chair:
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
New Dual Act Approach Replacement Replacing the RMA and Changes to the National Direction Package
Presented by Sarah Shaw, Barrister, Kate Sheppard Chambers
Learning Objective:
- Examine the new dual act approach replacing the RMA and changes to the national direction package
Presenters
Sarah Shaw, Barrister, Kate Sheppard Chambers
Sarah has more than 25 years’ experience in resource management law, public law and governance. Prior to becoming a Barrister in 2017, she spent ten years at Northland law firm Thomson Wilson Law and several years in the UK in the Public Law team at Transport for London. Sarah is an accredited RMA Hearings Commissioner and is currently the Deputy Chair of the Auckland intensification Independent Hearing Panel. She was appointed to the Gambling Commission in February 2022. Sarah has chaired the Northland branch of the Resource Management Law Association since 2019.
Register for this session only
