Environment and Resource Management Law

Bankside Chambers members appear before local authorities, the Environment Court and the senior courts across the full range of planning, environmental and resource management law matters in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our practice encompasses resource consenting, planning law, environmental litigation, and direct involvement in the development of the legislative frameworks governing this area.

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New legislation that will fundamentally reform New Zealand's resource management system is before Parliament, and our members are actively involved in shaping and interpreting the new legal framework.

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Appearing Before Councils, Courts and Tribunals
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Bankside members appear across all forums that determine environmental and resource management matters in New Zealand. Before local authorities, our members advise on and conduct resource consenting and designation processes, and represent clients at hearings on planning matters of local and regional significance. 
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Before the Environment Court, our members appear on appeals from council decisions, direct referrals, enforcement proceedings, and questions that shape the development of resource management law. 
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Before the District Court, our members prosecute and defend criminal proceedings brought under the Resource Management Act and related legislation. 
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Before the senior courts, our members are involved in appellate and judicial review proceedings, including applications for interim relief, often on issues of significance to the development of environmental and resource management law. Our members are experienced at each of those levels, including before the Supreme Court.
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A Practice at the Centre of Reform

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Bankside barrister Janette Campbell was appointed in September 2024 as Chair of the Expert Advisory Group established by the New Zealand Government to advise on transforming the resource management system. The Expert Advisory Group Report on Resource Management Reform was released in March 2025, addressing fundamental questions about how New Zealand manages its natural and built environments. Her appointment to lead that process reflects the depth of experience our members bring to this area. Janette has continued to provide advice to Ministers on the draft legislation, including as it proceeds through the Parliamentary process.

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Aidan Cameron provided advice to the then-Ministry for the Environment as an Independent Legal Reviewer on an early iteration of the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill; and previously contributed to research undertaken by Dr Greg Severinsen of the Environmental Defence Society as part of its resource management reform project.

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In addition to their work before courts and local authorities, our members have been directly involved in advocating for and interpreting the legislative changes that have reshaped resource management law in recent years. This includes national policy direction which has reshaped the approaches to urban development, freshwater management (including wetlands), protection of highly productive land, and infrastructure. 

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Resource Consenting and Planning Frameworks

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Resource consenting, planning and designation processes form a core part of the work our members undertake in this area. Our members act for developers, infrastructure providers, landowners and public entities seeking approvals under the Resource Management Act and the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

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Our members also advocate for clients seeking improvements to planning frameworks at both national and local levels, including advancing submissions on National Policy Statements and participating in plan review and change  processes. Our members are experienced in working with large, multi-disciplinary teams to deliver strong outcomes for projects across a wide range of sectors.

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Other Areas of Expertise

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For clients whose resource management matters raise public law questions, including the judicial review of decisions by public officials, our members’ work in this area connects directly with our broader practice in administrative and public law. The interface between resource management and te ao Māori can also give rise to issues under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). For clients in the energy and minerals sector, this practice connects with our expertise in energy and natural resources. Complex property law issues can also arise out of associated resource management litigation.