Advocacy in the RMA jurisdiction (CPD 1.5 hrs)

Bronwyn Carruthers KC (Chair)

Bronwyn has specialised in environmental, resource management and local government law since 2000.  She started her career at Simpson Grierson, before joining Russell McVeagh in 2011 and becoming a partner in that firm's Environmental, Planning and Natural Resources team later that year.   Bronwyn joined Shortland Chambers in December 2018.

As a specialist resource management litigator, Bronwyn has advised on a wide range of Resource Management Act 1991 issues and has experience appearing at all levels of New Zealand's justice system.  She has acted for local authorities, infrastructure providers, corporate clients, individuals and not for profit organisations.  In addition to obtaining approval for client's projects (or objecting to others' projects), Bronwyn can also assist with law reform, plan making, judicial review, declarations, prosecutions and other enforcement action, and advice on the lawfulness or otherwise of certain situations, approaches or decisions.

Her Honour Judge Prudence Steven KC

Judge Prudence Steven KC was sworn in as an Environment Judge and District Court Judge on 15 February 2021. Prior to appointment, her practice focused on resource management and local government/public law, including advising on irrigation proposals, water quality and quantity issues, hydroelectricity, mining, landscape and biodiversity issues, adventure tourism, coastal marine activities, retail, commercial and residential greenfield developments, heritage, forestry and infrastructure projects and appearing at all levels of the courts.

Judge Steven was appointed the in-house legal counsel for the Christchurch City Council early in her career. She was a founding partner of the firm Goodman Steven Tavendale Reid in 2001 before becoming a barrister sole in Canterbury Chambers in 2008. She was made a Queen’s Counsel in 2014.

Sarah Shaw

Sarah has more than twenty years’ experience in public law and governance, environmental law and resource management, and local government. She has a particular specialism in the Resource Management Act 1991 and is an accredited RMA Hearings Commissioner 

A skilled advocate and formidable negotiator, Sarah also has considerable expertise in regulatory drafting and statutory interpretation.

Sarah has extensive experience in RMA district and regional plan development on both sides of the table – both as sole counsel for council, and representing hapu and environmental and community interests – across council hearings, mediation and the Courts. She has an impressive track record of successfully and efficiently mediating solutions resulting in significant time and cost savings for her clients. Sarah also advises and acts on resource consent appeals and declaration proceedings.

Sarah has an extensive pro bono and low bono practice, acting for hapu and environmental groups.

Prior to moving to the Independent Bar in 2017, Sarah worked for nearly ten years at leading Northland law firm Thomson Wilson Law.

Martin Williams

Martin has nearly 30 experience practising in resource management and local government law with a particular interest and focus in his practice on climate change mitigation and adaption, as well as resource management system design. He has advised and represented a wide range of private and public sector clients including development proponents, Councils and community organisations at local authority and appeal hearings, appearing as counsel in a number of leading Environment and High Court cases as well as in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Martin is a former President of the Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand (Inc) serving on the National Committee of that Association for nine years. He is an accredited Hearing Commissioner (Chair Certification) under the Ministry for the Environment Making Good Decisions programme.

Martin was first elected to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in 2019 and has served since that time as Chair of the Hearings and Regional Transport Committees.