Environment &
Resource Management
Law Update

24 March 2026
Crowne Plaza, Auckland

A new direction

There is a lot of change both happening now and on the horizon within environmental and resource management policy and legislation.

This includes the Government’s two critical pieces of flagship resource management reform legislation due very shortly, and a raft of forthcoming changes to key national direction instruments and new National Policy Statements.

The conference is a high-level event that will deliver all of the key updates and analysis on what to expect. We will explore the proposed changes in detail and discuss how they will impact the delivery of planning and consenting at a central and local level.

Alongside all the latest headline grabbing developments in resource management, the event will also provide an overview of the other key environmental policy and legislative changes, including emissions and climate adaptation.

Reasons to attend

Explore the new Coalition Government’s vision for resource management for environmental protection
Learn about plans for the introduction of a new fast-track consenting regime
Hear a broad range of expert and industry perspectives on the proposed changes and new system vision
Examine the role of the proposed changes in improving infrastructure planning and consenting
Understand other additional changes to environmental policy and regulation: Freshwater, climate, biodiversity

Who has attended in the past

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We are currently working on the programme and agenda.
If you would like to have input into our research programme please email xxxx@brightstar.co.nz

KEY SPEAKERS FOR 2025

Our 2025 key lineup features financial leaders and strategic thinkers sharing insights on leadership, innovation, and the evolving role of today’s CFO.
Check out the full list.

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Venue

The location and how you can get there

Address

Crowne Plaza, Auckland
128 Albert Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010

Agenda

8:30	Registration and Coffee
8:50	Mihi whakatau
9:00	Welcoming remarks from Conference Chair
9:05	Delivering reform in environmental and resource management legislation and freshwater policy for New Zealand Providing a clearer framework for development and managing the effects on the natural environment in order to simplify, streamline, and planning, consenting and decision-making in the system Delivering practical reforms that will restore confidence and reduce red tape, while still delivering environmental gains Examining the latest developments in the Government reform of the Resource Management Act - Exploring the proposed new Natural Environment Act - Exploring the proposed new Planning Act Delivering an updated national freshwater policy direction to ensure consistent, practical, and efficient freshwater management across New Zealand Replacing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater
9:25	Delivering Local Government reform Simplifying Local Government – exploring the Government’s proposals to fundamentally change how we plan our cities and regions to strip out duplication in the system, standardise processes and drive down complexity and compliance costs Exploring the abolition of Regional Councils and Regional Councillors and their replacement with new Combined Territories Boards (CTB) made up of mayors from the region’s city and district councils Analysing the proposed criteria for regional reorganisation plans the potential role of the CTB in leading regional reorganisation plans Giving councils greater flexibility to balance environmental goals with economic impacts and allow longer timeframes to reach targets where needed Providing councils with the tools to improve environmental outcomes without unnecessarily harming businesses and the local economy
9.55	Panel discussion: Rethinking the delivery of environmental monitoring resource management and planning Assessing the requirements of the future streamlined planning system planning system with fewer plans, fewer consent categories, and fewer overall consents - what is the best way of delivering this? Exploring different options for how councils across a region can best work together to deliver efficient and effective local infrastructure, public services, and regulatory functions What is best way of delivering regional spatial and environmental planning? Strengthening environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement – exploring options for the creation of a more consistent and effective approach to environmental safeguarding and delivering environmental regulation, resource management and freshwater planning Creating a potential national compliance and enforcement regulator Greg Severinson, Reform Director, Environmental Defence Society (EDS) Megan Couture, Deputy Chair, New Zealand Planning Institute & Senior Associate – Planning, BECA Patrick Lynch Manager – Regional Compliance and Resource Use, Waikato Regional Council\| Te Kaunihera ā Rohe o Waikato Deon Swiggs, Chair, Environment Canterbury Regional Council
10:30	Morning refreshments
11:00	Enabling planning at pace to achieve greater infrastructure, renewable energy, housing and urban development Exploring The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 (Amendment Act) What are the new regulation-making powers introduced? Discussing changes to the enforcement provisions Examining the restrictions on council-led plan changes under the Resource Management Act Examining the restrictions on council-led plan changes under the Resource Management Act Improving natural hazard management – allowing Councils to respond faster to emerging risks and prevent development in hazard prone areas Supporting increased intensification Steve Mutch, Partner, Chancery Green
11:40	Transforming our regulatory approach to the achieve the delivery of planning at pace Analysing the underlying logic and economic rationale behind the new planning system Exploring how the new legislation gives rise to a strengthening of property rights and the protections this will bring Examining the economic concept of externalities and the application of a refined effects-based approach to planning and consenting Understanding reverse sensitivities Kevin Counsell, Chief Economist, Ministry for Regulation
12.20	Exploring the planned updates to twelve national direction instruments under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) Examining the proposal ‘packages’ of reforms consulted on: - Package 1 – Infrastructure and Development - Package 2 – Primary Sector - Package 3 – Freshwater - Package 4 - Going for Housing Growth Introducing four proposed new National Policy Statements (NPS) Lauren Wallace, Partner, Govett Quilliam & President, Resource Management Law Association
1.00	Lunch
2:00	Understanding the impacts of the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill (FTAA) Why are Fast-Track Approvals getting a comprehensive overhaul after just a year? Exploring the changes proposed to streamline the process and reduce timeframes with the aim of improving the general efficiency of the system Examining the increased Ministerial oversight of the process provided within the FTAA and the potential impact of the and the Minister being able to declare regional and national benefits of certain infrastructure or development Exploring what the reduction of mandatory consultation requirements will mean for applicants and those opposed to an application Analysing the restrictions on the discretion of Expert Panels to invite comments and the changes to rights to appeal Changes to address infrastructure-based barriers to consenting Madeleine Wright, Barrister, Mills Lane Chambers
2:40	Exploring the latest developments in the operationalisation of the Fast-track Approvals Act How fast is the Fast-track process in practice? Exploring the applications approved so far Examining current projects in progress Understanding the referral process and exploring projects that have been referred Understanding the Expert panels process for independent decision-making for each Fast-track project Examining the key lessons so far from implementation and from panel decisions Stephen Quinn, Barrister, Capital Chambers
3:20	Afternoon refreshments
3:40	Delivering Climate Adaptation and Resilience Examining the new Climate Adaptation Framework designed to ensure the country and economy are prepared for the growing risks from floods, storms and other natural hazards: - Risks and response information sharing - Roles and responsibilities - Investment in risk reduction - Cost-sharing pre-and post-event Exploring the Frameworks four pillars and16 key actions designed to ensure New Zealand is prepared for the effects of climate change Strengthening Māori climate resilience and Māori-led climate action through the Māori Climate Platform Developing New Zealand’s first-ever National Flood Map
4:20	Examining the latest developments in New Zealand emissions policy Exploring the latest updated emissions projections to 2050 Tightening the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Reducing the availability of emissions credits to restore integrity and market confidence in the ETS Exploring the restriction on Farm‑to‑Forest Conversions within ETS Analysing the Climate Change Commission’s first review of Aotearoa New Zealand’s 2050 emissions target Resetting the 2050 biogenic methane target Exploring the independent review of methane science and targets Reviewing the prospect of including emissions from international shipping and aviation into the 2050 target Stephanie de Groot, Partner \| Kaiurungi, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
5:00	Summary remarks from the Chair & Networking Drinks

Speakers 2026

Kevin Counsell

Chief Economist

Ministry for Regulation

Read bio

Kevin is the chief economist at the Ministry for Regulation and is responsible for developing and overseeing our long-term strategy to deliver high quality regulatory economic analysis to the Ministry and Minister for Regulation and provide an informed and insightful regulatory economics perspective to our work. Kevin has undertaken economic analysis of New Zealand’s regulatory systems throughout his career and is committed to the goal of improving the quality and functioning of those systems by providing rigorous conceptual and empirical economic analysis. Representing the Ministry on regulatory economic issues in public forums and industry events, Kevin is responsible for building and maintaining relationships within New Zealand and internationally, to ensure the Ministry is fully informed of broader regulatory trends and impacts. Kevin brings extensive experience in economic consulting and regulatory policy to his role at the Ministry. As a former director at NERA Economic Consulting, he specialised in regulatory, competition, urban, environmental, and welfare economics. His expertise was demonstrated through economic analysis, report writing, and expert testimony before courts and hearings panels. Through his membership in key advisory groups, Kevin has made significant contributions to policy development. He served on the Resource Management Expert Advisory Group, providing strategic guidance on resource management reform, and the Housing Expert Advisory Group, offering expertise on housing policy initiatives.

Patrick Lynch

Manager – Regional Compliance and Resource Use

Waikato Regional Council| Te Kaunihera ā Rohe o Waikato

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Regional Compliance Manager Patrick Lynch has 38 years’ experience in regulatory, investigative and enforcement roles in both central and local government, 20 of those years working specifically with the Resource Management Act. At Waikato Regional Council, Patrick is responsible for leading the Resource Use Directorate in matters related to compliance monitoring and enforcement (CME). He has direct operational responsibility for the investigations, environmental incident response, rural compliance, and maritime safety teams. Patrick is heavily involved with Te Uru Kahika (regional government sector) and Ministry for the Environment networks in developing policy and striving for consistency of CME best practice nationally. He regularly supports other regulatory agencies by leading training programmes and conducting reviews of their CME functions.

Stephen Quinn

Barrister,

Capital Chambers

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Stephen Quinn is an experienced civil and commercial litigator, who also is involved in criminal and enforcement matters in his area of speciality. He specialises in environmental, infrastructure, building and local government litigation. He has conducted many high profile and complex cases for a range of large clients, particularly on large infrastructure builds and local authority liability litigation. He has particular expertise in acting for local authorities and government agencies.

Stephen was a partner at DLA Piper for 25 years. His experience includes:

Resource management and planning: With involvement in everything from resource consent issues, designations, plan drafting and interpretation, enforcement, mediation, Council hearings, Court proceedings, direct referral proceedings and fast track panels.
Building: With involvement in all aspects of regulatory advice, enforcement, determination applications and appeals, and civil litigation arising from building related claims.
General civil litigation: Involvement in many types of civil proceedings, particularly defending local authorities.
Other local government regulatory area: Including decision making under the LGA, governance issues, bylaws and LGOIMA.

Madeleine Wright

Barrister

Mills Lane Chambers

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Madeleine is an experienced environmental and resource management lawyer. She has had the pleasure of representing a broad range of public and private clients, on an equally broad range of matters, including policy advice, fast-track and standard resource consent applications, planning processes, declarations, appeals, and judicial review. She is committed to working with clients to design a strategy that is tailored to their needs, and delivers prompt, clear, and pragmatic advice that reflects a sophisticated and current understanding of the law. Madeleine’s approach is to meet her client’s objectives without litigation. But if the court room can’t be avoided, she is a strong advocate. She is experienced in courts of all levels and has been counsel in precedent setting environmental cases. Madeleine’s strategic thinking, breadth of knowledge, and respect within the industry has seen her appointed to a number of advisory boards including for Watercare Auckland, Land Information New Zealand, Fortland Capital, and the Sustainable Business Network’s Million Metre Streams programme.

Lauren Wallace

Partner, Govett Quilliam &

President, Resource Management Law Association

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Lauren leads the Environment and Planning Team at Govett Quilliam and is a nationally regarded lawyer specialising in environmental and local government law, construction law and civil litigation. Lauren acts for a broad client base including local authorities, iwi, national corporations, and community groups. She advises on all aspects of environmental and planning issues, including resource consent projects, minerals and petroleum development, renewable and clean tech developments and local government planning and policy. She has significant experience assisting with large residential and coastal subdivisions, commercial developments and infrastructure projects. In civil litigation, Lauren is a skilled negotiator with extensive experience across a range of contractual, lease and property disputes, debt recovery and judicial review proceedings. In 2024, Lauren was recognised as a top female lawyer in New Zealand through NZ Lawyer’s Elite Women award. Lauren is also the current President of the Resource Management Law Association | Te Kahui Ture Taiao,

Steve Mutch

Partner

Chancery Green

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Steve has wide-ranging experience in resource management and environmental litigation, and has made numerous appearances at council-level and Environment Court hearings and mediations. His experience includes: assisting with resource consent/plan change applications for a number of major energy, residential, retail, and infrastructure projects; and advising on resource management plans and plan changes, resource consents, designations, and environmental legislation (including legislative/policy reform).

Steve has also acted on numerous major environmental due diligence projects prior to company and property acquisitions; and has advised on Public Works Act acquisition and compensation issues, the Local Government Act, and the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act.

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE

Successfully progressing the large-scale Mangawhai Central development through council hearings and several Environment Court appeals. The proposal includes a town centre/main street with a range of retail, commercial, and other services; a business area; and approximately 1,000 residential dwellings, including a retirement village
Advising one of the country’s largest petroleum companies for several years on a range of environmental matters, including active involvement through council hearings and ongoing Environment Court appeals on the Proposed New Plymouth District Plan
Preliminary advice to the applicant on a hyper-scale carbon-neutral datacentre proposal in the South Island
Advising one of New Zealand’s largest renewable energy generators through a council RMA enforcement process, and a resource consent review process
Advising Channel Terminal Services (operator of the 170km high-pressure liquid fuels pipeline from Marsden Point to Auckland) on a range of matters, including several third-party developments proximate to its pipeline
Acting for a property developer in Beachlands (Auckland) over many years on a major multi-stage residential subdivision/development
Assisting several clients on wind farms developments, including:
- Tararua Wind Power (Mercury) for its Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm in Northland
- Tilt Renewables for its recently-constructed Waipipi Wind Farm in South Taranaki
- Acting for neighbours affected by a proposed wind farm in Dunedin. The proposal was successfully opposed, with the Environment Court declining consents
Assisting Trustpower (now Manawa Energy) on an Environment Court water rights plan change in Otago, along with several other hydro-electric re-consenting projects and other matters
Assisting Northport with resource consent applications for its proposed expansion, and a recent Environment Court appeal on noise issues
Assisting the applicants for the Titanium Park Business Park expansion plan change at Hamilton Airport. The plan change was approved by the council and is subject to an appeal
Advising Channel Infrastructure on a range of environmental matters, including its major coastal dredging project, regional re-consenting, and the environmental aspects of its corporate restructure associated with its transition from a refinery to an import terminal
Providing mediation/facilitation services over several years to the Environmental Protection Authority and other clients

Megan Couture

Deputy Chair, New Zealand Planning Institute &

Senior Associate – Planning, BECA

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Elected to the Board of NZPI in 2021, Megan has served on the Executive Committee as Deputy Chair and as co- chair of the Resource Management Advisory Group. In these roles she has had the opportunity to represent members and the profession in front of Select Committee and to the media, and is keen to bring her energy and enthusiasm, fresh, innovating thinking, and a passion for the profession to a second term. As a board member, Megan co-authored “Racism in Planning in Aotearoa New Zealand” with Jade Wikaira (formerly of Papa Pounamu), exploring racism in the planning profession and how the profession might move successfully towards a bi-cultural planning framework. She is presently working on a follow up piece detailing actions the Institute can take towards achieving this, and is also leading the development of thought-piece on advocacy in the profession. As part of the Executive Committee, Megan also serves on the Financial Audit and Risk Management Committee, Professional Standards Committee, and chairs the Annual Awards Review Committee. A planner with over thirteen years’ experience working in the public and private sectors here in New Zealand and abroad, Megan holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Auckland (honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (manga cum laude) from Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in Critical Social Thought. She came to New Zealand as a Fulbright grant recipient specifically to learn about how cultural and environmental values have, and continue to, influence New Zealand’s planning framework. Megan has been a Full Member of Te Kokiringa Taumata | New Zealand Planning Institute since 2017. She has been involved in Institute affairs since university, serving on the Emerging Planners Committee from 2014 to 2016, and the Auckland Branch Committee from 2016 to 2021. She is also a trained Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator, which focuses on dialogic communication, group building, conflict surfacing and de-escalation, and holds a Certificate in Engagement from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2).

Stephanie de Groot

Partner | Kaiurungi

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

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Stephanie is a specialist environmental lawyer. She provides advice on all aspects of environmental and resource management law to private and public sector clients. Stephanie has a wealth of experience advising on a broad range of environmental issues. This includes planning, consenting, and designation issues under the Resource Management Act 1991, sustainability and regulatory compliance issues, the implications of environmental policy developments, and environmental due diligence.

She has advised some of New Zealand’s most well-regarded companies and public bodies. Her clients include property developers, infrastructure providers, government departments and ministerial offices, and businesses operating in the commercial, industrial, energy, aquaculture, and forestry sectors. Stephanie has a strong commercial acumen and regularly undertakes environmental due diligence for large commercial transactions. Her expertise in this area includes advising on Overseas Investment Act implications, contaminated land liability, New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) interests, and drafting environmental warranties and indemnities. In line with the Climate Change Commission’s recent call to action, Stephanie is focused on helping organisations understand and implement evolving climate change regulation and policy. She provides practical and clear advice on the operation of the ETS and the implications for business associated with a changing climate. She is sought after for her advice on this topic and regularly advises, writes, and presents to different audiences. A specialist in environmental dispute resolution, Stephanie regularly advocates for clients in hearings before councils, the District Court, the Environment Court, and the High Court. She also assists with alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation. Clients seek Stephanie’s trusted advice and guidance in relation to regulatory compliance issues. She is often called on to guide clients through criminal prosecutions under environmental legislation and assist them with their engagement with affected stakeholders. Beyond her experience and technical skills, clients appreciate Stephanie’s down-to-earth approach, strategic advice, and her commitment to delivering excellent results. Her expertise is grounded in science which enables her to provide technically excellent and insightful advice. She has a science degree, with a major in natural geography and specialisation in environmental science. Prior to practising law, she worked in the regulatory services department of Auckland Regional Council (now Auckland Council). In recognition of her legal expertise, Stephanie received an excellence award in the Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year category at the 2021 New Zealand Law Awards. She has recently been named by NZ Lawyer on its 2022 Rising Stars list. Stephanie is a sustainability leader within the firm and contributes to several innovative sustainability forums and projects. She sits on the firm’s SustainME Committee, that drives sustainability awareness and initiatives to assist in meeting the firm’s sustainability goals for the natural environment and regularly contributes to the firm’s regular Sustainable Impact publication.

Greg Severinsen

Reform Director

Environmental Defence Society (EDS)

Read bio

Greg provides the lead on EDS’s environmental system reform projects. He has practised in resource management law at a major law firm and worked as a policy analyst at the Ministry for the Environment. Greg has published, presented and taught on a range of resource management and environmental law topics.

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Tagged 24 March, 24 March 2026, Environment & Resource Management Law Update 2026, Environmental

Environment & Resource Management Law Update

24 March 2026 Crowne Plaza, Auckland

A new direction

Reasons to attend

Who has attended in the past

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KEY SPEAKERS FOR 2025

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Check out our other upcoming events

Venue

The location and how you can get there

Agenda

Speakers 2026

Kevin Counsell

Patrick Lynch

Stephen Quinn

Madeleine Wright

Lauren Wallace

Steve Mutch

Megan Couture

Stephanie de Groot

Greg Severinsen

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Environment &
Resource Management
Law Update

24 March 2026
Crowne Plaza, Auckland