Duncan has more than 45 years' experience, extending across a range of industry sectors, including resource management, local government, land valuation, and public law.

His past experience includes infrastructure development projects involving roads, water supply schemes, waste water treatment plants, gas pipelines, and transmission lines, as well as the consenting of large residential developments and commercial developments.

An important recent focus for Duncan has been on natural hazard issues particularly dealing with the liability and insurance aspects of landslips, flooding and coastal erosion.

Duncan is heavily involved in the RMA reform processes with a special focus on subdivision and land development.

Duncan is accredited by Land Information New Zealand to undertake Crown property work.  He is a member of the Resource Management Law Association and holds an Honorary Life Membership to the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. Duncan is a co-editor of Brookers Resource Management which provides in-depth analysis of the legislation which maintains New Zealand’s resource management regime. 

Duncan is also a founding editor of the Building Law in New Zealand (Thomson Reuters).

Work Highlights

Presenter for Local Government New Zealand on natural hazards and climate change for webinar series in 2018.

Chair of the Expert Consenting Panel for the Molesworth Street Office Development Consent Application.

Chair of the Expert Consenting Panel for the Browns Bay Apartments in Auckland.

Advice to Councils on abandoned land and adverse possession claims.

Acted on a major compensation claim relating to the Transmission Gully Motorway.

Regular advisor to local authorities on natural hazard matters.

Areas of Expertise

Insights & News