Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Chair
Marcus Beveridge, Managing Director, Queen City Law
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the current legislative trajectory and key developments in New Zealand’s environmental law, including the RMA reform and Fast-track Approvals Act
- Analyse ongoing system-level challenges in infrastructure delivery and anticipate likely environmental law developments for the remainder of 2026
Environmental Law in New Zealand: the Current State of Play
- RMA reform: legislative progress, overall framework and key areas of focus/contention
- Meanwhile - delivery of approvals under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024: observations on evolving procedure and notable outcomes
- Delivery of infrastructure: challenges remain - what is happening at a system level?
- Look ahead: what can we expect for the balance of 2026?
Presented by Leigh Ziegler, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay
Presenters
Marcus Beveridge, Managing Director, Queen City LawMarcus Beveridge is the Managing Director of Queen City Law NZ Limited. His main areas of practice are construction and property law, commercial law, foreign investment, real estate services and immigration. Queen City Law previously won the NZ Property & Construction Law Firm of the Year 5 times and the NZ Boutique Law Firm of the Year 3 times. Marcus was formerly Chairman of NZAMI and Convenor of the New Zealand Law Society Immigration Committee. Marcus is also a regular commentator on TV, Radio and in the press regularly on assorted legal topics in NZ.
Leigh Ziegler, Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay
Leigh specialises in resource management, environmental and local government law, with particular experience working on large scale infrastructure projects and consenting developments. Leigh has provided strategic advice to local authorities, crown entities and private clients on a range of issues arising under the Resource Management Act 1991, Public Works Act 1981, Local Government Acts and other key transport and local government legislation. Leigh has extensive experience acting on behalf of requiring authorities in NoR and resource consent applications, both at a council level and in the Environment Court. In addition to this work, Leigh also has experience advising clients in relation to their obligations under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. Leigh has also provided advice to clients in relation to the environmental aspects of a broad range of property and commercial transactions.
