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PRACTICE AREAS

Environment
Major Projects
Energy and Resources

High Net Worth

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Chris is experienced in a wide variety of resource management and planning areas and has been actively involved in resource consent applications, notices of requirement for designations, and plan changes. He advises on development projects, in particular infrastructure, commercial and residential development. He is familiar with all aspects of network utilities, including designations. Chris has also assisted clients with applications under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011, issues related to compulsory acquisition of land, and overseas investment. He assists high net worth clients to achieve bespoke consent outcomes.

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Chris assists clients by providing strategic input at the early stages of scoping and design of a project, through to running a case at hearings and appeals. He appears at Council hearings, in the Environment Court and the High Court.

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Chris has chaired expert consenting panels pursuant to various fast-track legislation and provides expert facilitation and dispute resolution services for numerous applications processed by the EPA. This experience has provided valuable insights to these processes.
  

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE

• Counsel for Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams on an application for helicopter takeoffs and landings at an Auckland residential property

• Counsel for coastal infrastructure operators in High Court proceedings regarding applications for customary marine title pursuant to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011

• Assisting Northport with the scoping, strategic design, and consenting of its ‘Vision for Growth’ project to expand and develop its commercial port facility at Marsden Point to deliver a dedicated container terminal

• Chair of expert consenting panel appointed to decide a 91-unit residential development referred by the Minister for the Environment pursuant to fast-track legislation

• Acting for Channel Infrastructure (formerly Refining NZ) throughout a significant new capital dredging project at the Whangarei harbour channel and approach. Chris continues to act for Channel Infrastructure across all environment issues.

• Acting for 2degrees including successfully obtaining resource consents for numerous mobile telecommunications facilities and emerging technologies including regarding the interpretation and application of new regulatory policy (NES for Telecommunications Facilities)

• Assisting Mansons TCLM and the Ted Manson Foundation on a number of commercial and residential development projects

• Conducting expert facilitation and dispute resolution services for the Environmental Protection Authority including a range of applications for resource consents, designations, marine consents, and water conservation orders, under the RMA, Fast-track legislation and the EEZ Act.

• Acting for Todd Property to successfully negotiate a plan change and obtain a series of resource consents for a comprehensive residential development on Napier Hill, including the former Napier Hospital site

• Acting for Asaleo Care (formerly SCA Hygiene), a multinational tissue product manufacturer through series of Environment Court appeals relating to geothermal extraction and reinjection in Kawerau

• Assisting Progressive Enterprises obtain resource consent for a new mixed-use development in Auckland

• Advising the Ministry for Education on an environmental audit associated with proposed works to Western Springs College and Pasadena Intermediate

• Acting for Contact Energy on an environmental offset project in respect of the Hauauru ma Raki windfarm

• Assisting Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing to obtain resource consents for the operation and development of its primary NZ manufacturing site in Auckland

• Successful High Court defence to judicial review challenge to grant of resource consents for a Central Otago wind farm for (then) Trustpower

• Assisting Pacific Steel Group (a division of Fletcher Steel) obtain air discharge consent for continued operation of a significant steel manufacturing and recycling plant in Auckland 

• Responsible for successful objection by National Amusements (operators of Showcase and Multiplex cinemas) against compulsory purchase order relating to acquisition of land for London 2012 Olympics

• Advising Microsoft Corporation on planning aspects of redevelopment of business park in Thames Valley, Reading (UK)