Padraig (Paddy) is one of New Zealand’s leading local government and resource management lawyers, and a trusted advisor to some of New Zealand’s largest councils and council-controlled organisations (CCOs).

As an advisor, Paddy’s main areas of expertise include resource management (with a particular focus on water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure), local government powers and decision-making, CCO governance, roading and land transport, regulation of water services, bylaws, legislative drafting and law reform.

Paddy is also one of New Zealand’s most experienced public law litigators.  He regularly appears for clients in judicial review and other public law proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Paddy is a Water New Zealand Board member. He is also a member of the Resource Management Law Association and has been a regular presenter for the Resource Management Law Association, NZ Planning Institute, Water New Zealand, Taituarā (Society of Local Government Managers) and NZ Law Society events.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024
Public Law

Leading Lawyer

Asia Pacific Legal 500 2024
Projects & Resource Management

Leading Lawyer

Work Highlights

Watercare

Obtaining resource consent to take 150 million litres per day of water from the Waikato River (and associated consents) under a Board of Inquiry process.

Auckland Council

Successfully defending in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judicial review proceedings concerning its Provisional Local Alcohol Policy.

Auckland Council / Tauranga City Council

Assisting with select committee submissions on the Water Services Entities Bill and Water Services Legislation Bill.

Watercare

Advice on its customer contract, infrastructure growth charges, trade waste and introduction of a new non-domestic wastewater tariff.

Hawkes Bay Councils

Advice on the establishment of a potential CCO to own and manage water, wastewater and stormwater assets.

Auckland Transport / Auckland Council

Successfully defending judicial review proceedings challenging the Regional Land Transport Plan on climate change grounds.

Watercare

Obtaining discharge consents for the Auckland wastewater network, Pukekohe Wastewater Treatment Plant and South-West Wastewater Servicing Project.

Auckland Transport / Auckland Council

Successfully defending Environment Court appeals against a road stopping and private plan change, allowing the redevelopment of QEII Square and Commercial Bay in downtown Auckland.

Tasman District Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council

Successfully defending objections under the Local Government Act 2002 against development contributions.

Watercare

Drafting and legal advice on the Auckland Trade Waste Bylaw and Auckland Water Supply and Wastewater Network Bylaw.

Areas of Expertise

Environment, Planning & Resource Management
Local Government
Public Law
Water & Wastewater
Judicial Review

Insights & News

21/10/2024·4 mins to read

Select Committee reports back on the Fast Track Approvals Bill

Fast-track consentingInfrastructure & projectsLocal government
15/10/2024·

Tentative steps but much lies ahead for a Climate Change and Managed Retreat policy framework

Climate changeResource Management Act reform
10/09/2024·

Local Water Done Well: Water Service Delivery Plans required by 3 September 2025

Water reform (Local Water Done Well)
5/07/2024·4 mins to read

Government gives housing the green light

Resource Management Act reformLocal governmentHousing
4/07/2024·4 mins to read

Infrastructure Funding & Financing: the Government’s reform roadmap unveiled

Infrastructure funding & financingInfrastructure & projectsPPPsCity & Regional Deals
4/06/2024·5 mins to read

Local Water Done Well - Water Service Delivery Plans and Water CCOs

Local governmentWater reform (Local Water Done Well)
23/05/2024·5 mins to read

The next tranche of RM reform is here: targeted changes for freshwater consenting, farming, coal mining and biodiversity

Resource Management Act reform
6/05/2024·

Is local government debt constrained?

Infrastructure & projectsLocal governmentInfrastructure funding & financing
15/04/2024·4 mins to read

Supreme Court confirms high bar for consent applications subject to “avoid” directives

Resource Management Act reform
8/03/2024·4 mins to read

The Fast-Track Approvals Bill has arrived - there is no mistaking the Government’s intention to cut red tape

Fast-track consentingInfrastructure & projectsResource Management Act reformLocal government
29/02/2024·4 mins to read

Emerging issues for councils - creative arguments for disputing rates liability

Local government
24/11/2023·2 mins to read

Christmas comes early for projects of national and regional significance

Resource Management Act reformInfrastructure & projectsElection 2023Fast-track consenting
7/11/2023·3 mins to read

He Poutama – Part Two: Tikanga Māori me Te Ture Taiao | Tikanga Māori and Environmental Law

Māori businessLocal governmentNgā Take Māori o Te Ao Ture: Māori Legal Update
1/11/2023·4 mins to read

Supreme Court provides guidance on obligations to manage natural hazards

InsuranceJudicial reviewLocal government
25/08/2023·

Supreme Court confirms how national direction is to be given effect to under the RMA

Resource Management Act reform
13/07/2023·2 mins to read

Court of Appeal provides finality for local authorities and SunGold kiwifruit growers

Local governmentSG work highlight
4/07/2023·5 mins to read

RM Reform: key amendments to the planning and consenting framework

Resource Management Act reform
30/06/2023·4 mins to read

RM Reform: substantial amendments but uncertainty remains

Resource Management Act reform
23/06/2023·5 mins to read

Critical thinking for a critical role: the future of local government

Local governmentClimate changeMāori businessResource Management Act reform
26/05/2023·3 mins to read

Successful judicial review of DOC decision results in substantive remedy

Judicial reviewMāori business
25/05/2023·5 mins to read

Embracing ESG in corporate decision-making

ESGCorporate governanceDirectors' dutiesClimate changeMāori business
16/05/2023·3 mins to read

Historic Supreme Court win for Auckland Council

Local governmentJudicial reviewSG work highlight
8/05/2023·4 mins to read

Landmark alcohol decision has national implications

Local governmentPublic lawSG work highlight
28/04/2023·3 mins to read

Court of Appeal upholds right to refuse vesting of non-compliant water infrastructure

Urban developmentLocal governmentInfrastructure & projects
13/03/2023·3 mins to read

Climate change litigation: two more judicial review applications declined

Local governmentClimate change litigation
3/03/2023·2 mins to read

Judiciary submits on the Natural and Built Environment Bill expressing concerns

Resource Management Act reform
2/02/2023·3 mins to read

And we’re off! Process for RMA reform announced and underway

Resource Management Act reform
12/12/2022·5 mins to read

Beyond the RMA: What comes next - Update #6: Transition to the new regime

Resource Management Act reformBeyond the RMA series
7/12/2022·5 mins to read

Beyond the RMA: What comes next - Update #5: A new approach to freshwater resource management

Beyond the RMA seriesResource Management Act reform
5/12/2022·4 mins to read

Climate change again before the Court

Climate change litigationClimate change
1/12/2022·4 mins to read

Beyond the RMA: What comes next - Update #4: The new players, and increased Māori participation

Beyond the RMA seriesResource Management Act reform
29/11/2022·5 mins to read

Beyond the RMA: What comes next - Update #3: Government unveils future resource consent regime

Beyond the RMA seriesResource Management Act reform
25/11/2022·5 mins to read

Beyond the RMA: What comes next - Update #2 on Plan Making

Beyond the RMA seriesResource Management Act reform
25/11/2022·4 mins to read

LIM changes to ensure improved access to natural hazard and climate change information

Local government
23/11/2022·5 mins to read

Beyond the RMA: what comes next - Update #1

Beyond the RMA seriesResource Management Act reform
22/09/2022·4 mins to read

Government moves to protect our most productive soils

Resource Management Act reform
2/09/2022·3 mins to read

New requirements for Freedom Camping vehicles to be self-contained

Local government
30/05/2022·2 mins to read

Official Information requests: Chief Ombudsman’s revised approach to delay complaints

Local government
28/05/2022·4 mins to read

Tighter rules to protect indigenous biodiversity

Resource Management Act reformMāori business
26/05/2022·3 mins to read

Emissions Reduction Plan: Local government’s climate change toolbox gets bigger

Climate changeEmissions Reduction PlanLocal governmentMāori businessUrban development
20/05/2022·4 mins to read

Clear themes for decision-makers in the Emissions Reduction Plan

Climate changeEmissions Reduction PlanESG
6/05/2022·3 mins to read

Three Waters Reform milestone reached with new Water Services Entities Bill

Resource Management Act reformWater reform (Local Water Done Well)
14/04/2022·3 mins to read

One step closer: Councils to be required to keep a register of elected members’ pecuniary interests

Local government
28/03/2022·4 mins to read

Fast-track consenting for infrastructure and development projects

Fast-track consentingResource Management Act reformInfrastructure & projects
23/03/2022·4 mins to read

End use of water relevant to term of water take permit

Water reform (Local Water Done Well)
18/02/2022·3 mins to read

The face of Local Government is changing

Local governmentResource Management Act reformWater reform (Local Water Done Well)
21/10/2021·5 mins to read

Government ‘levels-up’ housing intensification plans

Resource Management Act reformUrban developmentHousing
27/08/2021·4 mins to read

High Court clarifies Iwi’s right to charge licensing fees for use of Taupō Waters

Māori businessAffordable Water Reforms (Three Waters)
10/08/2021·4 mins to read

Climate Change Commission releases final recommendations to Government

Climate changeEmissions Reduction Plan
10/08/2021·4 mins to read

The Exposure Draft Natural and Built Environments Act: implications for the climate change space (1)

Resource Management Act reformClimate changeUrban development
15/07/2021·2 mins to read

Thought leadership report ‘Taking the pulse’ of local government launches

Local governmentInfrastructure funding & financing
2/07/2021·4 mins to read

First draft of the RM reform released

Resource Management Act reform
30/06/2021·3 mins to read

Three Waters Reform Update: Government confirms four entities to be created

Water reform (Local Water Done Well)
3/06/2021·2 mins to read

The shape of three waters: DIA’s phase 2 report

Infrastructure & projectsAffordable Water Reforms (Three Waters)
26/05/2021·1 min to read

Transforming Three Waters: key issues involved in the Three Waters Reform Programme

Water reform (Local Water Done Well)
14/04/2021·3 mins to read

Court dismisses appeals on East West Link proposal

Resource Management Act reformLocal governmentUrban developmentInfrastructure & projects
11/02/2021·3 mins to read

Moving forward on Māori wards - key features of the new Bill

Māori businessLocal government