Greater Wellington

Hearing Panel Members, Minutes and Directions

Part 1 - Schedule 1 (P1S1) & Freshwater Planning Process (FHP) Panel Members

add_circle Show more

	Dhilum Nightingale (Chair) Dhilum is a Barrister in Kate Sheppard Chambers specializing in resource management law. She has a planning degree and is a Chair endorsed RMA Hearings Commissioner. She has worked in environmental law for 20 years in both the public and private sector including for seven years for a State-Owned Enterprise where she was involved in policy change proposals throughout Aotearoa aimed at implementing RMA national direction. Recently, she chaired the Dhilum represents a range of clients on both policy and consenting matters and her legal practice also includes employment and humanitarian immigration law. Dhilum is of Sri Lankan heritage and was born in Tamaki Makaurau but has lived in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara for 25 years, where she lives now with her three teenage children.
	Sharon McGarry (Deputy Chair) Sharon is a certified and experienced RMA Hearing Commissioner (Chair endorsement) with nearly 30 years of experience in environmental planning, policy, consents and compliance monitoring. She has over 18 years of statutory decision-making experience throughout NZ under the RMA, Local Government Act, Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 and the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology (with a focus on freshwater and marine biology) and a Master of Science (Honours) degree in Resource Management. She has particular experience in coastal management, aquaculture, discharges, water takes, renewable energy and mining.
	Gillian Wratt (MNZM) Gillian is an experienced senior executive and director with an extensive background in science and environmental management and policy, including as Chief Executive of Cawthron Institute and Antarctica New Zealand. She is a certified Environment Commissioner with experience as an RMA Commissioner and on Environmental Protection Authority EEZ and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms decision making committees. She is based in Whakatu/Nelson and has several governance roles in the science and not-for-profit sectors.
	Sarah Stevenson Born in Te Mātau a Maui Hawkes Bay, Sarah is an accredited resource management commissioner with over 25 years’ experience in planning, management, and leadership. In previous roles she led the Kāpiti Coast District Council strategy, planning and policy functions (including the Proposed District Plan), reviews of the Resource Management Act 1991, a review of the Crown Minerals Act 1991, freshwater planning including as a member of the Land and Water Forum plenary, and urban growth studies in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. Sarah is a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute and former board member of the Resource Management Law Association, and lives in Te Whanganui-ā-Tara Wellington with her husband and six adult children. She is immediate past Chair of the Louise Nicholas Trust and is a member of the New Zealand Defence Force Operation Respect Steering Group.
	Puawai Kake Puawai is a Founding Director and Principal Planner at Kohu Strategy and Planning, with extensive experience in resource management planning across Auckland and Northland. She has expertise in policy development, plan making, and preparing resource consent applications. Notably, Puawai led the drafting of Ngā Roimata o Ngā Atua, a policy report for the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group and has advised iwi and hapū on Resource Management Reforms, including the Fast Track Approvals Bill. From 2022 to 2023, she was the lead Māori urban planner for Auckland Light Rail, addressing issues for mana whenua. She also prepares climate adaptation strategies and has deep knowledge of key regulations like the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement and National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020.

Hearing Panel Minutes & Directions

add_circle Show more

HEARING PANEL MINUTES
First minute and directions of hearing panels (PDF 173 KB)	24th of September

Provisions, Topics and Hearings Stream Guides

add_circle Show more

Hearing Streams

There are five Hearing Streams. Each stream covers a specific topic. Hearings were held from November 2024 to July 2025.

Event	Location	Date to start	Date to end
Hearing Stream One	Greater Wellington Council Chamber & Naumi Event Center	November 4th	November 8th
Hearing Stream Two	To be determined	March 24th, 2025	April 4th, 2025
Hearing Stream Three	To be determined	May 19th, 2025	May 30th, 2025
Hearing Stream Four	To be determined	June 23rd, 2025	July 4th, 2025
Hearing Stream Five	To be determined	July 28th, 2025	August 2nd, 2025

Hearing Stream One - Overarching matters and region-wide changes

Hearing Stream Two - Objectives, ecosystem health policies, and wastewater

Hearing Stream Three - Rural land use activities, forestry, and earthworks

Hearing Stream Four - Storm water, water allocation, and freshwater action plans

Hearing Stream Five - Integration

Introduction

Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan will shortly be at the stage of Hearings, where submitters have the opportunity to speak to a Hearing Panel about their submission.

There are five Hearing Streams, each stream covers a specific topic. Hearings started in November 2024 and finished in July 2025.

Hearing Phase and Timeline

Submitters will be contacted by using the Address for Service provided in each submission. If you are a submitter and/or further submitter and wish to update this Address for Service, please email regionalplan@gw.govt.nzlaunch.

Submitters and/or further submitters who have requested to be heard in support of their submission will have the opportunity to speak to a Hearing Panel from late-2024 onwards.

In advance of each hearing stream, documents are released to help inform the hearing panel. (These may include S42A reports, technical evidence, legal submissions, and rebuttal reports).

Hearings Panel will listen to submitters over the course of the hearing

The Friend of Submitter service is available during the hearing phase for submitters to use if support is needed in preparing for your hearing. The Friend of Submitters is fully independent and has not been involved in developing the Proposed Change 1. You can contact them by sending an email Friend.of.Submitter@gw.govt.nz

We have two Hearing Panels appointed for these Hearings: 

 The Part 1, Schedule 1 (P1S1) Hearings Panel, appointed by the Council, who will hear and make recommendations on submissions in relation to the Part 1, Schedule 1 provisions of NRP Change 1.
The Freshwater Hearings Panel (FHP) panel, appointed by the Chief Freshwater Commissioner to hear submissions on the Freshwater Planning Instrument component of NRP Change 1.

Hearing Panel Directions

The Hearing Panels will release Minutes prior to the Hearing to advise of directions, procedures, dates and evidence deadlines.

It is essential that all parties attending the Hearing have read and understood all of the Hearing Panel Minutes.

Further directions will be issued by the Hearing Panel prior to, during and post Hearings

Further Assistance

For any questions about Plan Change 1 National Resources Plan hearings that is not covered by our website content, please contact our team at regionalplan@gw.govt.nz.

If you have any questions regarding how to present a submission at a hearing, please email our independent Friend of the Submitter at Friend.of.Submitter@gw.govt.nz launch.

Whakataki
Search

Hearings

Hearing Panel Members, Minutes and Directions

Part 1 - Schedule 1 (P1S1) & Freshwater Planning Process (FHP) Panel Members

Dhilum Nightingale (Chair)

Sharon McGarry (Deputy Chair)

Gillian Wratt (MNZM)

Sarah Stevenson

Puawai Kake

Hearing Panel Minutes & Directions

Provisions, Topics and Hearings Stream Guides

Hearing Streams

Hearing Stream One - Overarching matters and region-wide changes

Hearing Stream Two - Objectives, ecosystem health policies, and wastewater

Hearing Stream Three - Rural land use activities, forestry, and earthworks

Hearing Stream Four - Storm water, water allocation, and freshwater action plans

Hearing Stream Five - Integration

Introduction

Hearing Phase and Timeline

Hearing Panel Directions

Further Assistance

Get in touch