Whatungarongaro nga tangata, toitū te whenua - As man disappears from sight, the land remains.

Our team works in all areas of resource management, Te Tiriti and tangata whenua matters. We understand the diverse nature of both public and private sector needs and can strategically guide you through your development or consenting project and any issues which arise. The importance of Māori involvement in environmental and resource consent matters is always at the forefront of our thinking, and we have a firm understanding of the policy frameworks affecting Te Ao Māori and how these policies can operate alongside tikanga.

Our team takes a strategic approach and works with developers, planners, surveyors, engineers from the early stages of resource consenting and planning to the issue and sale of new titles. We have considerable knowledge of the approach and objectives of public interest bodies, private third-party interests and iwi interests, whether the development be infill or greenfield, residential, commercial, industrial or mixed-use.

We can assist and provide advice on:

• Subdivisions.
• Consenting.
• Plan Changes.
• Special Housing Areas.
• Environmental Court Appeals.

We have expertise to achieve positive environmental and mana enhancing outcomes for Māori. In doing so, we aim to ensure that cultural values and taonga are recognised and provided for in a way that enhances the relationship of Māori with the environment.  We are also able to provide specialist advice as to how Te Tiriti and its principles should be appropriately applied and interpreted in regards to resource management law.

We provide advice on:

• Resource Consents.
• Infrastructure Projects.
• Local Authority relationships including reviews for Local Authorities. 
• Cultural Values Assessments.
• Advocacy:
  • Council Hearings
  • Board of Inquiry
  • Environment Court Hearings
  • Appeals to higher courts
• Natural Resource redress within Treaty Settlements.

McCaw Lewis has worked extensively with private clients, bodies corporate and councils relating to all areas local authorities interact with. This work includes gaining resource consents, issues with land rating, the amalgamation of land, private pipes, council policies, lobbying strategies, long-term and annual plan reviews.

We can assist and provide advice on: 

• Infrastructure.
• Property Issues.
• Commercial Contracts.
• Development Contributions.
• Crown acquisitions and compensation agreements. 
• Reserves. 
• Easements. 
• Drainage issues/concerns. 
• Rates.
• Plans, policies and bylaws. 
• Plan changes.
• Elections. 
• Legislation:
  • Resource Management Act
  • Public works Act
  • Reserves Act
  • Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
• Hearings in the Environment Court and Board of Inquiry Processes. 

The McCaw Lewis team has knowledge and expertise in multiple aspects of resource management and environmental law and can advise on the full spectrum of Resource Management Act processes. We understand the diverse nature of both public and private sector needs and also all of the highly technical areas involved in resource management.

We can assist and provide advice on:

• Water allocation consents.
• Air.
• Minerals.
• Discharges.
• Quarrying. 

Recognising mana whenua and mana Moana is vital to long term protection of iwi/hapū interests.  In the takutai Moana (marine and coastal area) space, we have experts across the motu.  We draw on our experience across most of the High Court cases heard to date and engagement with the Crown on behalf of various groups.

We represent groups across the country involved in High Court hearings and active case management in then Court.  We can assist with your High Court application, including preparation of evidence and engagement with overlapping groups.

Similarly, we can advise groups through the preparation of evidence/information for engagement with the Crown.

For more about the Crown funding regime click here.