Hon Amy Adams
Minister for the Environment
Hon Dr Nick Smith
Minister of Conservation
13 December 2013
Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel appointed
Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have today announced the appointment of eight
board members to the Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel.
The Auckland Unitary Plan will be the first combined resource management plan for Auckland and will replace the regional
policy statement, and the regional and district plans that Auckland Council inherited from the eight former councils of
the Auckland region.
“It represents the largest planning exercise in the history of New Zealand, and will have significant implications for
Auckland and New Zealand’s environmental and economic performance,” the Ministers say.
“The Auckland Unitary Plan hearings panel has an important role to play in shaping the future of Auckland. The panel
will hear submissions and make recommendations to the Auckland Council on the proposed plan.”
The panel members have expertise in a wide range of disciplines including law, economics, resource management planning,
local government and Tikanga Māori.
The panel was appointed following consultation with Auckland Council and the Independent Maori Statutory Board. The
Ministers thanked those entities for their constructive involvement in the process to select the panel members.
The panel will be chaired by David Kirkpatrick, a resource management barrister who has significant experience in
consenting and planning.
Mr Kirkpatrick has chaired high profile consent applications and has appeared in front of several Boards of Inquiry.
The other panel members are Des Morrison, Janet Crawford, Paula Hunter, John Kirikiri, Stuart Shepherd, Greg Hill and
Peter Fuller.
Biographies of Board Members
David Kirkpatrick (Chair): Mr Kirkpatrick is an experienced resource management barrister, with extensive experience in consenting and
planning appeals. He is an accredited independent hearings commissioner, and has chaired council hearings, including a
number of high profile consent applications. He also has expert litigation experience, having appeared before consent
authorities and Boards of Inquiry.
Des Morrison: Mr Morrison is a former Auckland Councillor, during which time he was Chair of the Rural Advisory Panel and Regulatory
Bylaws Committee. Mr Morrison also served as ward councillor for Franklin District and has extensive business experience
including General Manager at New Zealand Steel/BHP New Zealand Steel.
Janet Crawford: Ms Crawford is a resource management consultant with expertise in mediation and facilitation. She is a co-founder of the
Mediators Institute of New Zealand. Ms Crawford’s previous employment includes Research Associate at Harvard University,
and Senior Research Fellow at Waikato and Massey University. Ms Crawford is a winner of the NZ Planning Institute
Distinguished Service Award.
Paula Hunter is a planning consultant at MWH with extensive experience in district and regional plan development and specialist
skills in structure planning, managing and staging growth and aligning infrastructure requirements. Ms Hunter's recent
work includes strategic advisor for the Hamilton City District Plan review. Ms Hunter is a winner of the NZPI
Distinguished Service Award and an accredited independent Hearings Commissioner.
John Kirikiri: Mr Kirikiri has Tikanga Māori expertise in an RMA and emergency management context. He is a qualified independent
hearings commissioner and is an independent commissioner for Auckland Council. He is a former Deputy Mayor of Rodney
District Council and a former member of the Hibiscus and Bay’s Local Board.
Stuart Shepherd: Mr Shepherd is a director at the Sapere Research Group and provides advice on regulatory economics, business strategy,
and public policy. His work as an economist has primarily focussed on infrastructure including economic regulation in
the airport, electricity, gas and telecommunications sectors. Mr Shepherd’s previous employment includes roles at Vector
and Telecom.
Greg Hill: Mr Hill is a resource management consultant, an accredited independent hearings chair and commissioner. He has
significant experience in chairing council hearings and technical expertise in air, land, water and coastal policy
issues. He was previously a General Manager of Policy and Planning at Auckland Regional Council, and a principal author
of the Auckland Regional Coastal Plan.
Peter Fuller: Mr Fuller is a Barrister with experience and qualifications in resource management law, planning, environmental
management, and horticultural science. He has appeared before council hearings, the Environment Court, and the High
Court. Mr Fuller is an accredited RMA Commissioner and was formally a Strategic Policy Analyst at the Auckland Regional
Council, and project leader on the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy.
ENDS