With the new planning regime reshaping subdivision practice across New Zealand, strategic thinking is now essential for success. This intensive 3h webinar brings together leading experts to deliver practical guidance on navigating the evolving regulatory and commercial landscape. Gain clarity on how the post-RMA framework will affect subdivision approvals, learn strategies for managing conditional contracts, caveats, and easements, and discover how to leverage technical evidence to strengthen your position in complex disputes. This program equips you with the insight and tools to plan, protect, and progress your clients’ subdivision projects in 2026 and beyond.
Thursday, 26 March 2026
3.00pm to 4.00pm Strategic Contract Management: Conditional Promises, Easements and Caveats
- Managing easements, covenants and shared infrastructure obligations to avoid conflict
- Responding to caveat disputes and competing title interests
- Aligning contract conditions with evolving zoning rules and Council requirements
Presented by Scott Ratuki, Partner and Jacinda Johnston, Senior Associate, Tompkins Wake
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Break
Learning Objectives:
- Develop strategic approaches for running subdivision matters under the new RMA legislation
- Learn how to draft and manage contracts in subdivision matters effectively using conditional promises, easements and caveats
- Understand the complexities of height-limited subdivisions and digital visualisation of subdivision plans
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD hours
Chair:
Kitt Littlejohn, Barrister, K R M Littlejohn
2.00pm to 3.00pm Update on the New RMA Legislation: Strategic Approaches to Subdivision Approvals in 2026
- Focus on implementation strategy: how councils are interpreting the reforms, what early consent decisions reveal and where approval bottlenecks are emerging
- Learn how to recalibrate subdivision timelines, adapt documentation and guide clients through the first wave of applications under the new system
Presented by Charlotte Muggeridge, Partner, Harkness Henry
4.15pm to 5.15pm Unfolding the Layers: Height-Limited Subdivisions and the Future of 3D Cadastre in New Zealand
Take deep dive into the evolving landscape of subdivision in New Zealand.
- Unpack the complexities of height-limited subdivisions, using the NZ International Convention Centre as a case study to explore important considerations for hight-limited subdivisions and highlight challenges in representing overlapping 3D land rights and easements on traditional 2D plans
- Explore LINZ’s proposal for digitally visualised survey and title plans, offering a surveyor’s perspective on the opportunities and limitations of this innovation.
- Discuss how these developments pave the way for a true 3D cadastre and reshape legal and surveying practices
Presented by Ryan Healey, Licensed Cadastral Surveyor and Principal, and Graham Petrie, Licensed Cadastral Surveyor and Survey Manager, Harrison Grierson
Presenters
Scott Ratuki, Partner, Tompkins WakeScott is a commercial lawyer with specialist expertise in commercial property construction and development, banking and finance law and in syndication and securitisation of investments relating to commercial property. Scott leads Tompkins Wake's commercial property practice and combines his legal expertise with a deep understanding of our clients’ business to provide high-level commercial advice. Scott uses his expertise to navigate complex regulatory environments delivering our clients practical and effective solutions to their often complex financial deals and transactions. Scott has a thorough understanding of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Act and the Financial Markets Conduct Act. As a talented and accomplished musician, Scott also has a strong interest in Events and Venue related law, advising promoters and venue owners on a wide range of commercial and contractual legal matters. Scott is ranked in AsiaLaw Profiles as a notable practitioner in construction and real estate law for the Asia Law 2020 edition. He has also been noted as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 for Asia Pacific 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Charlotte Muggeridge, Partner, Harkness Henry
Charlotte has a specialised skill range across resource management, property development, easements, subdivisions, local government and unit titles. She has co-authored New Zealand’s first textbook on subdivisions (Subdivisions Law and Practice, LexisNexis, 2024). Before joining Harkness Henry, she worked in local government and in private practice. Charlotte has presented seminars for the New Zealand Law Society, Survey & Spatial New Zealand, the Waikato Plan, and Auckland District Law Society on property law, subdivisions, and resource management law.
Kitt Littlejohn, Barrister, K R M Littlejohn
Kitt is a seasoned lawyer with over three decades of post-admission experience. After commencing practice as a property lawyer in his hometown of New Plymouth, he moved to Auckland in 1997, where he specialised in environmental and resource management law, commencing practice as a Barrister sole in 2000. Since then he has practiced almost exclusively in resource management, property, public law, and related regulatory areas. Kitt advises a diverse range of individual and corporate clients seeking approvals across a various industries, as well assisting non-profit environmental protection groups. Kitt’s extensive expertise includes advising on resource development and statutory planning projects at all stages, with specialties in urban redevelopment, rural subdivision, coastal and maritime development, retirement, childcare, waste management, and ports. Additionally, Kitt has been qualified as an Independent Commissioner since 2008 and since then has chaired well over 100 notified application hearings for numerous local authorities around New Zealand. Kitt has also chaired Expert Consent Panels under the COVID Fast-track legislation and he continues to do so under the new Fast-track Approvals Act.
Graham Petrie, Survey and Urban Development Manager, Harrison Grierson
Graham leads the Land Surveying team with a strong focus on relationships, customer service and high professional standards. Graham has a strong foundation in project and contract management, and organisational change and implementation projects. Graham's technical skills cover a wide range of surveying disciplines as well as the entire land development and subdivision process. He has a special interest in GIS and geospatial data capture. Graham takes a blended technical and strategic approach to complex project sand problems to find innovative and cost-effective solutions, and he has a reputation for developing lasting relationships with clients.
Ryan Healey, Licensed Cadastral Surveyor and Principal, Harrison Grierson
Jacinda Johnston, Senior Associate, Tompkins Wake
Jacinda is a senior associate who joined Tompkins Wake in 2015. Jacinda works predominantly in our Auckland office but frequently works from our Tauranga and Hamilton offices. Jacinda specialises in commercial property transactions and works with a wide range of commercial property clients, from developers to investors, to facilitate the disposition and acquisition of property, including due diligence and finance, as well as leasing. Jacinda has worked with a number of Māori trusts in various property transactions, including establishing the appropriate entities for the investment to protect the interest of the trusts.
