Mike is an environmental and local government law specialist, with extensive experience in strategic policy development and regulatory litigation.

Mike advises on all aspects of the Local Government Act 1974/2002, Resource Management Act 1991, Public Works Act 1981 and related legislation. He has been involved in a wide range of projects, advice and litigation, for various clients, including:

  • Resource consent and designation applications and appeals
  • Strategic growth planning (including Future Development Strategies) and related plan change processes
  • District Plan review processes
  • Local government policy, rating and bylaw development and challenges to those processes
  • Local government decision-making, governance, CCO and LGOIMA / Ombudsmen issues
  • Public works issues and disputes
  • Development contributions policies and challenges
  • Environmental due diligence
  • RMA and LGA enforcement, including declarations
  • Alcohol licensing and policy

He is an experienced litigator, and frequently appears before local authorities and the Environment Court. He also regularly appears in the higher courts for appeal and judicial review proceedings.

Mike is an updating author of Westlaw - Resource Management Law, and a member of the Resource Management Law Association.

Work Highlights

Auckland Council 

Advice and representation in relation to the development of the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, including strategic advice through the hearings process, representation before the Independent Hearings Panel, and appearances before the Environment and High Court.

Queenstown Lakes District Council 

Advice and representation (ongoing) on its district plan review, with a particular focus on urban rezonings, landscape policy, urban growth and spatial planning, and district-wide chapters.  This has involved Council hearings, Environment and High Court appeals and Court of Appeal proceedings.

Auckland Council, Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Regional Council, Timaru District Council, Porirua City Council and New Plymouth District Council

Advice and/or representation in relation to district plan reviews and plan change processes.

Various local authorities, LGNZ, Taituara and central government  

Advice on Three Waters, RMA reforms and the Future for Local Government review.

Nelson City Council / Tasman District Council  

Advice and attendance at Council hearings in relation to spatial planning process and NPS-UD implementation.

Various clients  

Advice and representation in relation to a range of resource consent, notification, enforcement, substantive decision-making and plan interpretation issues, including declaration applications.

Christchurch City Council 

Representation before the Gambling Commission, in relation to renewal of casino licence.

Various local authorities

Representation before the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority, and various District Licensing Authorities in relation to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Taituarā (NZ Society of Local Government Managers)

Review of various legal compliance modules on alcohol, decision-making and LGOIMA.

Areas of Expertise

Insights & News