Making Your Submission Count – Insights from Experienced Commissioners
RMLA Auckland’s first professional development session in the new “Making Your Case Count” series drew an impressive crowd on the evening of Thursday, 30 October 2025, with more than 70 attendees gathering at Russell McVeagh’s offices for an engaging and highly interactive discussion.
Moderated by Heike Lutz, the session brought together three of Aotearoa’s well respected Independent Hearing Commissioners, Greg Hill, Ken Gimblett, and Sarah Shaw, to share candid insights on what makes a real difference in hearings.
The conversation was lively from the outset, with questions flowing freely from the floor and a genuine appetite from practitioners to understand how commissioners think and work. The panellists offered thoughtful reflections on everything from how submissions can be made clear, concise, and persuasive, to what helps or hinders decision-making during the questioning process.
There was strong agreement that clarity, professionalism, and preparation remain the foundations of effective participation, but also recognition that no two commissioners approach their task in exactly the same way. Each panel member described their own style, tools, and priorities, underlining that hearings benefit from diversity of thought and professional background.
The discussion covered the full spectrum of hearing practice: the value and limitations of expert conferencing and joint witness statements, how commissioners interpret the Environment Court’s Code of Conduct for experts, and what makes expert evidence genuinely influential. Questions from the audience prompted further debate on the use of technology and AI in hearings, the handling of tikanga evidence, and how panel deliberations unfold behind the scenes.
The Russell McVeagh venue provided an excellent setting for both formal discussion and informal networking afterwards, with attendees enjoying refreshments and a chance to continue conversations sparked by the session.
This event marked the start of RMLA Auckland’s new professional development series focusing on hearings practice and decision-making, a series that clearly meets an ongoing appetite among practitioners to learn from those who make the decisions.
Warm thanks are extended to Greg, Ken, and Sarah for their openness and generosity, to Russell McVeagh for hosting, to Heike for guiding the discussion, and to everyone who attended and contributed to such a vibrant exchange of ideas.
