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Kierra Parker
LLB BA MEnvLaw • Christchurch
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Kierra is a planning and environmental lawyer with expertise in regulatory litigation, enforcement, and judicial review.
Kierra has broad regulatory litigation experience, for both private and public sector clients.
Kierra has experience in a range of resource management processes including in plan changes, resource consent appeals, declaration proceedings, judicial review, designations, direct referrals, fast tracked consents, enforcement orders and prosecutions. She has specialist expertise in cases involving heritage matters, cultural issues, natural hazards and climate change. Kierra also advises on regulatory issues under the Building Act, civil liability, and local government decision making.
Over the last 13 years, she has appeared before the High Court and Environment Court in New Zealand, and the Victorian Supreme Court, PPV and VCAT in Melbourne, Australia. Kierra has been involved in strategically running large litigation matters in New Zealand and Australia and is experienced at briefing, reviewing and co-ordinating evidence and expert witnesses as well as preparing and delivering case strategy and legal submissions.
She is a published author (in the NZJEL, EPLJ and RMLJ) on a number of topics related to climate change litigation, regulation and policy, and a member of the Resource Management Law Association.
Work Highlights
Fast-track
Advising and representing territorial authorities and regional councils in Queenstown and Canterbury on a large number of fast-track projects - both referral and substantive applications.
Advising and representing Taranaki Regional Council on the Taranaki VTM project (seabed mining) substantive Fast-track application.
Advising and representing applicants for significant housing and infrastructure developments - both on referral and substantive applications.
Climate change and natural hazards
Assisted a major renewable energy project in obtaining resource consents, and helped local authorities in the consenting of major projects where climate change was in issue (such as the proposed Cribb Point Gas pipeline in Victoria).
Experience in advising local authorities on regulatory issues and civil liability related to flooding.
Published author and advisor on topics concerning climate change regulation, litigation and policy, and has a Masters of Environmental Law which involved research into climate change topics.
Enforcement
Successfully obtaining high profile enforcement orders under the RMA and the planning and environmental legislation in Victoria, Australia. She has also acted on appeals in relation to abatement notices, and determinations concerning notices to fix under the Building Act 2004, and provided general advice and training on enforcement options and gathering suitable evidence for a prosecution. She has experience in conducting RMA and Building Act 2004 prosecutions as the prosecutor.
Heritage and culture
In-depth knowledge of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 and experience acting in relation to appeals on Archaeological Authorities, and on plan change appeals and high-profile resource consent appeals which involve heritage and cultural issues.
Judicial review
Acting in judicial reviews in the RMA context for local authorities defending notification decisions, and in a successful judicial review of a decision of an expert consent panel under Fast Track legislation. Acted for the successful applicant for a judicial review of a decision of the Minister of Conservation on behalf of a special interest group.
Resource consents and designations
Advising and representing local authorities and Ministries/Crown Entities in relation to advice, direct referral, and appeals including on infrastructure and roading projects, water permits, and housing and subdivisions.
