Brookers Resource
Management Act

Helen is a current member of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Committee of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which took over the role from the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA). Helen sat as a board member of ERMA for 6 years.

During her time on ERMA and now on the Committee Helen has been involved (including as chair) in a number of signficant decisions on hazardous substances and new organisms including the reassessments of 1080 and methyl bromide and applications involving genetic modification of brassicas and onions.

Dr Briar Gordon is a Senior Parliamentary Counsel at the Parliamentary Counsel Office in Wellington. She has had special responsibility for coordinating legislation required for settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims. Dr Gordon has been an author for Brookers Resource Management since 1991 and also a specialist contributor on Treaty of Waitangi matters.

Prior to being appointed an Environment Court Judge and District Court Judge in 2014, John was the head of Chapman Tripp's Resource Management and Environmental Law team in Wellington. He has extensive experience in all aspects of resource management and environmental law and particular experience in the consenting of major projects.

John has in depth experience in EPA Board of Inquiry processes, and before the Environment Court and commissioner hearings. He is active in environmental law reform and has assisted in the drafting and development of national policy and standards.

John was appointed by the Select Committee to an expert panel to audit the 2009 Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms, and is an accredited Independent Commissioner under the Ministry for the Enviroment's "Making Good Decisions" programme. He is also a founding author of Brookers Resource Management.

John has in depth experience in EPA Board of Inquiry processes, and before the Environment Court and commissioner hearings. He is active in environmental law reform and has assisted in the drafting and development of national policy and standards.

Philip Milne is a specialist Environmental / Resource Management lawyer with more than 21 years experience in the Local Government and Environmental Law field. He has been in practice since 1989, a partner at Simpson Grierson from 1997 to 2010 and Special Counsel from July 2010. He is now practicing as a Barrister based in Waterfront Chambers Wellington.

Philip has extensive experience in environmental and public law, including dispute resolution, advocacy, plan drafting and review, strategy, policy and RMA project management, strategic advice and judicial review. He has been an author of Brookers Resource Management since 1991.

He is an accredited Independent Resource Management Commissioner with significant experience in chairing a wide range of hearings, including some high profile hearings in Canterbury.

Camilla heads the Nelson division of Duncan Cotterill's Environmental Law team. An expert in Resource Management and Environmental Law, Camilla has advised a wide range of public and private sector organisations on environmental matters, including the legal implications of policy decisions as well as on all aspects of litigation.

Camilla has a background in administrative law (judicial review) and was for three years a Crown Counsel with the Crown Law Office, in both the Treaties and International Law team and with the Natural Resources team.

Camilla sits on the NZ Law Society Environmental Law Committee. She is also a past President of the Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand.

James is a partner in Simpson Grierson's Wellington office, in its local government and environment group. He specialises in resource management and environmental law, with a particular focus on energy, utilities, and infrastructure projects.

James has appeared as an advocate before local authorities, the Environment Court, and Boards on Inquiry on a wide range of environmental law matters for both local authorities and developers. He also has successfully appeared in a number of leading environmental and judicial review proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Within his environmental law practice, James has expertise in strategic growth planning, environmental due diligence, judicial review, financial and development contributions, subdivision, roading, historic places, contaminated sites, environmental enforcement, and public works issues.

James has been a contributing author for Brookers Resource Management since 2005.