Events Calendar
RMLA offers a range of events throughout the year, including regional networking opportunities, national roadshows, the Salmon Lectures, and our annual conference. You will also find selected third-party events listed here where we consider they may be of interest to our members.
Many RMLA events may be eligible for Continuing Professional Development. Each individual is responsible for maintaining their own CPD plan and record. For legal practitioners, the New Zealand Law Society provides a useful CPD template on its website.
Anti-harassment and discrimination Policy: for anyone attending an RMLA hosted or co-hosted event, please be aware of our policy - read here.
RMA Reform and the Environment: A Political Panel Discussion
Wellington RMLA's popular pre-election political panel is back!
This year we have Ministers and MPs from every side of the house ready to answer your key questions about anything resource management related. As always, this event will be facilitated by David Allen, partner at Buddle Findlay.
This event sells out quickly, so buy your tickets quickly!
RM Reform Coffee Catchup - yRMLA Canterbury
Looking to connect with others working in the resource management field? Join us for a casual coffee catch-up designed specifically for emerging resource management practitioners.
This is an opportunity to meet like-minded professionals, expand your network, share experiences, and build connections with peers from across the industry in a relaxed and informal setting.
We'll also have some informal discussion on the RM Reform We appreciate that changing legislation can be a lot to get your head around, so this is an open opportunity to ask questions and discuss the reform with people from different disciplines at a similar stage to you.
Whether you're working in planning, engineering, environmental science, ecology, landscape, law or related areas, all new-in-career (<5 years’ experience) professionals with an interest in resource management are welcome.
This is a free event with nibbles provided courtesy of the yRMLA
Why attend?
Meet and network with other young resource management professionals
Share experiences and learn from peers across different disciplines
Grow your professional connections in a relaxed environment
Enjoy great coffee and conversation
If you have any questions about this event, please email Steven Jiang (steven.jiang@stantec.com)
Mid-winter Drinks - Nelson
RMLA and NZPI invite you to mid-winter drinks at Fanny’s.
This is a free event for NZPI and RMLA members. Wood-fired pizzas and canapés will be provided.
Please RSVP below by 23 July 2026.
RMA reform: expert reflections on the reported-back Bills
Following the release of the Environment Select Committee reports on the Natural Environment and Planning Bills, attention is now turning to what the reported-back reforms may mean in practice.
To support that discussion, RMLA is pleased to invite members to an RMLA Reform Webinar – Panel Discussion at 12.00pm – 1:15pm on Monday 3 August. This webinar will provide a timely opportunity to hear from an experienced panel of speakers as they reflect on the reported-back version of the Natural Environment and Planning Bills, and what the direction of travel may mean across different parts of the resource management system.
We are delighted to be joined by:
Dr Mahina-a-rangi Baker, Managing Director at Te Kōnae.
Liam Hodgetts, Chief Planning Officer, Wellington City Council.
Jo Mooar, Senior Legal Counsel, Transpower NZ Limited.
Dr Greg Severinsen, Reform Director, Environmental Defence Society.
Each speaker will provide short reflections on the reported-back Bills from their area of expertise, followed by a broader panel discussion and an opportunity for questions from members. We expect this to be a valuable and practical conversation for those working through what the reforms may mean for day-to-day resource management practice, implementation and decision-making.
This webinar is free to attend and open to all interested participants, whether or not you are an RMLA member.
Please register early to secure your place.
Getting ready for Transitional Consenting under the proposed Planning Act
This webinar for RMLA and NZPI members will provide a deep dive into the transitional consenting provisions as reported back by the Environment Select Committee. The specific focus is on the changes that will impact practitioners first (possibly within one month of enactment) as part of the transition process as set out in Schedule 11 of the Planning Bill, ie the procedural principles and proposed new approach to s104, being the narrowed scope of effects consideration for resource consents.
MCERT officials will present an overview of the changes as they appear in the select committee report. This will be followed by a discussion with a senior planner and lawyer who will explore the practical implications of these changes. We will attempt to work through your queries in a Q&A session.
Intended audience: This webinar will be of interest to practitioners involved in the resource consent process either as an applicant, consultant planner, a consent processing planner lawyer, policy and CME experts or other technical specialists that connect into the resource consent system.
Presenters:
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Sara leads the implementation of the new planning and environmental management system. She has deep experience working closely with local government in the implementation of government reforms. Sara has worked in the areas of environmental law, policy, sustainability, relationship management, project management, government administration and implementation. Her background includes technical experience in resource management, and climate change. She practiced as a lawyer and worked as a sustainability consultant before joining the New Zealand government in 2010.
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Ruth is leading the implementation of Transitional Consenting in the new planning system. She has deep experience working in and with local government, including six exciting earthquake years with Christchurch City Council in international relations and economic development, before making the shift to central government in 2015. Since then she has worked in both policy and operational teams at the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, Land Information New Zealand, and the Department of Internal Affairs, including the Future for Local Government Review. Her background includes a PhD in policy implementation.
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Amanda works across the spectrum of policy, consenting, and compliance disciplines of resource management and is a trusted advisor to both local government and central government agencies. With more than 17 years of experience working in local government in both New Zealand and the UK, Amanda has operated at the coalface of resource management.
Amanda is also an experienced trainer and supporter of planning practitioners, focusing on the development of practical skills and the importance of critical thinking. -
Lauren Wallace is President of the Resource Management Law Association and a Partner at Govett Quilliam. She leads the firm’s Environment and Planning Team and specialises in environmental, resource management and local government law, as well as civil litigation.
Lauren advises a diverse range of clients, including local authorities, iwi, energy and infrastructure providers, developers and community groups. She has extensive experience helping clients navigate complex consenting, planning and regulatory matters and has served as chair of a fast track expert consenting panel. Through her leadership of RMLA and involvement in law reform submissions, Lauren brings a strong understanding of both the legal framework and the practical issues facing practitioners as New Zealand transitions to a new resource management system. -
Kate Stubbing is a Partner at Cooney Lees Morgan in Tauranga and Secretary of the Resource Management Law Association. She specialises in resource management, planning, environmental and local government law, advising councils, developers and private clients on resource consent applications, major development and infrastructure projects, planning disputes and regulatory processes.
Kate has more than two decades of legal experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. She is actively involved in resource management law reform through her roles on RMLA’s National Committee and Bay of Plenty Branch Committee, including contributing to submissions and presenting to select committees. Her combination of legal expertise and practical consenting experience gives her valuable insight into how the proposed transitional provisions may affect practitioners, applicants and decision-makers.
The Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport is sponsoring these workshops as part of their commitment to supporting effective implementation of the new planning system. We are pleased to offer it free of charge. We expect this to be a popular session and spaces are limited to 1000 people. We encourage you to register early. It will be recorded and available for on demand viewing approximately one week after the event.
Pathways to Practice – Breakfast with Barristers
Pathways to Practice is designed to explore the diverse ways professionals can build and shape their careers within the resource management field.
The Conservation Amendment Bill - What it Means for Use, Development and Concessions
Join us for a one-hour webinar unpacking what these reforms mean in practice — for concessionaires, developers, advisers, and anyone with an interest in how the conservation estate is managed.