An evening of insight and networking for emerging RMA practitioners.

The Young RMLA Wellington committee invites you to hear Lan Pham MP speak to our members. Ms Pham is an MP for the Green Party, the Environment and RMA Reform spokesperson, and sits on the Environment Committee.

Ms Pham has a background in freshwater ecology, is a Certified RMA Commissioner and served two terms on Environment Canterbury. With the select committee report on the RM3 Bills due imminently, and plenty of networking opportunities with other junior RMA practitioners, this event is not one to miss!

Important information:

• Free event for both RMLA members and non-RMLA members.

• Nibbles and drinks will be provided.

• Ms Pham will be speaking from 6:15pm so we kindly ask that the audience is seated by that time.

• Please note that the event is subject to Ms Pham's availability and may be changed if there are scheduling conflicts

The Otago/Southland Branch Committee invites members to a “(near enough to) Winter Solstice Catch up”.

General vibes are that everyone is a bit tapped out with the ongoing reform roller coaster. A tonic for that is connection and sharing a few war stories with your colleagues. To that end, please join us at Vigo, 18 Fryatt Steet from 5.15pm on 23 July 2026.

First drink and some delicious food provided. The Branch Committee would also be keen to hear what you would like us focussed on over the next little while and how we can support members through another round of change. We will entertain trading suggestions for a beverage.

Please RSVP below by 21 July for catering purposes.

Join us for an engaging and interactive Q&A session at Simpson Grierson with:

• The Hon Sir Mark Cooper KNZM, KC — Sir Mark was appointed to the High Court in 2004 and to the Court of Appeal in 2014, serving as President of the Court of Appeal from 2022 until his retirement from the judiciary in late 2024. Sir Mark is currently practising as an arbitrator at Bankside Chambers. Before joining the bench, Sir Mark was a leading resource management and local government lawyer.

• The Hon Justice Melanie Harland — Justice Harland practised in civil litigation, including resource management and administrative law, before her appointment as a District Court Judge in 2007 and as a full-time Environment Court Judge in 2009. She was appointed to the High Court in 2021 and is based in Christchurch. Justice Harland also sits on the Divisional Court of Appeal.

This is the third session in an interactive professional development series run by RMLA. Previous sessions have traversed the "good" and the "bad" practices for council level hearings, and insights from those deeply involved in the Fast Track process.

This session turns to the Senior Courts. Sir Mark and Justice Harland will draw on their judicial experiences hearing resource management cases on judicial review and appeal, offering a view from the bench on what works (and what doesn’t) when matters reach the High Court and Court of Appeal. The session is directed not only at counsel - the "good," the "bad," and the judicial bugbears - but equally at expert witnesses, and what makes for good evidence if a matter ends up before the Senior Courts.

Whether you are a lawyer, planner, or expert witness, we encourage you to come geared with questions for this "conversational style" session.

To encourage open and frank discussion, the Chatham House Rule will apply. In addition to questions from the floor, attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance for the panel's consideration by emailing us by Friday 17 July 2026.

Spaces for this in person only session are limited — register now to secure your place. Doors open at 5.30pm with the discussion running from 6pm-7pm.

As you may be aware, the Select Committee Report on the two Bills to replace the RMA – the Natural Environment Bill and the Planning Bill – is now set to be released on 20th July 2026.

New Zealand Planning Institute's Chief Policy Officer, Emily Grace, will be analysing the Committee's report, reporting on how the Committee has responded to NZPI's submission points.

As both planners and environmental/local government lawyers will be interested in understanding the Select Committee’s report we thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for the NZPI and RMLA Otago branches to come together for an in-person breakfast event. Nothing like some RMA reform chat to help swallow your Bacon Buttie!

With that tantalising thought, please join us to grab a hot beverage and breakfast sustenance before we tune in to hear what Emily has to report at 9:00am. After her report has finished we can have a bit of a round the table korero amongst the group to share initial thoughts on the direction of travel and key changes that have materialised.

Please confirm your attendance by 23 July 2026.