New Zealand's environmental and planning framework is entering a period of significant change. As the Conservation Amendment Bill progresses through the Select Committee process, you cannot afford to wait until the final legislation is settled before understanding its potential implications. Unpack the key provisions of both the Conservation Amendment Bill and the Spatial Planning reforms and gain practical insight into what the reforms propose, the key issues you should be watching as the legislation progresses, and how to prepare clients for a changing planning and environmental landscape.

Presenters

Vicki Morrison-Shaw, Barrister, Accredited RMA (Making Good Decisions) Chair and Commissioner, Vicki Morrison-Shaw Barrister
Vicki-Morrison Shaw is an environmental barrister and commissioner. Vicki's experience spans major infrastructure developments such as wind farms, rail and roading; coastal activities such as marinas, sand mining, aquaculture, and coastal discharges/occupations; as well as large housing and land development proposals. She has advised and represented applicants, regulatory authorities, and interested parties for appeals and judicial reviews relating to resource management matters, heritage authorities, wildlife permits, as well as Māori law issues. Vicki regularly chairs and sits on hearing panels for plan changes, resource consents and fast track consents. Vicki is the convenor of the New Zealand Law Society's Environmental Committee which reviews and submits on proposed changes to environmental laws. Vicki has both Ngāpuhi and Pākehā whakapapa and speaks Te Reo Māori.

Maree Baker-Galloway, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Maree specialises in environmental and planning law, specifically the Resource Management Act 1991, Conservation Act 1987 and related legislation. Maree has particular expertise, experience and interest in freshwater management, marine issues, tourism development, urban development (including the Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas Act) and natural resource use. Maree also advises public interest groups and industry bodies. Maree is interested in the advances being made in buildings, technology, emissions and energy usage that fall under the category “green growth” or “clean tech” in the context of natural resource use and urban development and how environmental and planning law applies. Maree was on the national executive for the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA) from 2007 to 2017, serving from 2015 to 2017 as President. Maree is recommended as an environment lawyer in the Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) and Doyles Guide (2021 and 2022), and for her expertise in Natural Resource Law in the ‘Best Lawyers’ rankings. She co-authored the Lexis Nexis text book “Focus on Resource Management Law”, 2015, and is author of the Costs chapter of DSL’s Environmental Handbook.

Clare Lenihan, Barrister, Kate Sheppard Chambers, RMA Hearings Commissioner
Clare specialises in environmental, conservation and public law and has over 25 years’ experience. She started out as a criminal lawyer and then worked for the Department of Conservation for 15 years as Southland Conservancy Solicitor. Clare joined the Independent Bar in 2012. She has represented a wide range of clients during that time, from central and local government, NGOs and corporate to individuals, farmers and community groups, covering a myriad of environmental issues. She has appeared in all Courts as lead or sole counsel (District Court, Environment Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court). Although based in Southland, Clare has experience in regions from the far north to the deep south, including the Subantarctic Islands (which she has been lucky enough to visit). Clare has considerable experience in and is able to advise on a wide variety of issues including: policy statements and plans, resource consent applications, coastal and freshwater matters, indigenous biodiversity, natural character and outstanding landscapes, marine farm replacement consents, subdivisions, enforcement orders and abatement notices, conservation issues, judicial review and declaratory judgment proceedings, roading issues, historic heritage, and cycle trails.

Sarah Ongley, Barrister, Kate Sheppard Chambers; RMA Hearings Commissioner
Sarah commenced her career in environmental and local government law at Chapman Tripp in 1996. Sarah has considerable advocacy experience, appearing in significant cases in the areas of landscape identification, biodiversity, marine planning, coastal processes and freshwater. Equally experienced in district matters such as urban development, subdivisions, amenity, designations and enforcement, Sarah acts for private clients, community groups, NGOs, central and local government. Her unique experience in freshwater matters has led to fruitful relationships with iwi and hapū clients. She is adept at providing strategic advice and focusses on efficient solutions, including in negotiation/mediation. Sarah takes instructions on all areas of environmental/local government law including resource consent applications, submissions on district and regional plans, Building Act, official information legislation, public law issues, wider coastal issues and the distinct legislation administered by the Department of Conservation. She is well positioned to provide advice on legislative reform given her experience assisting central government policy teams, legislative drafting and as a departmental advisor to previous environmental select committees. (Notably, she led the cross-departmental team that provided legal advice on the legislation that enabled New Zealand to ratify the Kyoto Protocol).