Panel of Independent Hearing Commissioners

⁠⁠⁠Whangarei District Council is reviewing its panel of independent hearing commissioners appointed to hear and decide (or recommend) on applications under the Resource Management Act 1991 (‘RMA’), the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013, the Reserves Act 1977, the planning provisions of the Council and other relevant statutes, on behalf of the Council.

Appointment to the panel will cover the engagement of Independent Hearing Commissioners to hear and determine applications under the Resource Management Act (1991) on behalf of Council, including:

• Applications for resource consent;
• Applications to change conditions of a resource consent;
• Applications to extend the consent period of a resource consent;
• Notices of requirement to designate land or alter a designation;
• Notices of requirement for a heritage order or to alter a heritage order; and
• Private and WDC-initiated Plan Change applications

Independent Hearing Commissioners shall be appointed, having regard to their demonstrated knowledge, skills and experience in one of more of the following areas:

• Planning, resource management and heritage protection;
• Law, local government and local affairs;
• Matters relating to the Treaty of Waitangi and kaupapa Maori;
• Environmental Science, including the physical and social sciences;
• Architecture, engineering, surveying and traffic;
• Landscape and urban design;
• Hearing Processes;
• Alternative Dispute Resolution;
• Knowledge of the consent authorities function under the Resource Management Act 1991.

It is a requirement that applicants must meet the accreditation requirements outlined in the Resource Management Act 1991 and accreditation must be current.

The appointment will be for a period of five years from delegation of powers by Council. The successful applicant will be contracted to the Whangarei District Council under a contract for service.