Hearing of Submissions

Hearings Process

The first hearing started on 30 October with the final hearing completed on 20 March 2025.

Commissioners

Commissioners who are independent of the plan preparation process heard and will make recommendations on submissions.

The Commissioners are Dean Chrystal, who is Chair of the Commissioners Panel, along with panel members Paul Rogers, Anton Becker, Sharon McGarry and Maria Bartlett. 

All Commissioners are certified under the Ministry for the Environment, Making Good Decisions program. Dean, Paul and Sharon are also certified to Chair a hearings panel. More information on the certification process can be found here:

https://environment.govt.nz/what-government-is-doing/areas-of-work/rma/about-the-making-good-decisions-programme-certification-for-rma-decision-makers/

Correspondence from Commissioners

Minute 60 – Decisions ProcessDownload
Minute 59 – Noise HearingDownload
Minute 58 – Extension to Ecosystems and Biodiversity CaucusingDownload
Minute 57 – Mining and Mineral Extraction HearingDownload
Minute 56 – Withdrawal of Original Submission PointsDownload
Minute 55 – Coastal Hazards Updated Hearing TimetableDownload
Minute 54 – Caucusing on Ecosystems and BiodiversityDownload
Minute 53 – Renotification of Variation 2Download
Minute 52 – Responses sought on Cumulative Effects of Wastewater Disposal ReportDownload
Minute 51 – Response to the evidence of Dr Robert LangridgeDownload
Minute 50 – Extension for Mining and Mineral Extraction Right of ReplyDownload
Minute 49 – Definition of Recreation Activity – Skyline Enterprises LtdDownload
Minute 48 – Silver Fern FarmsDownload
Minute 47 – Further Extension to Cumulative Effects of Wastewater Disposal ReportingDownload
Minute 46 – Alma Road Rezoning submissionDownload
Minute 45 – Extension to Cumulative Effects of Wastewater Disposal ReportingDownload
Minute 44 – Expert conferencing for Noise ChapterDownload
Minute 43 – Updated Information on Natural HazardsDownload
Minute 42 – Time Extension for Expert Caucusing following the Mining and Mineral Extraction HearingDownload
Minute 41 – Updated hearing timetable August 2024 to March 2025Download
Minute 40 – Ecosystems and Indigenous Biodiversity HearingDownload
Minute 39 – Briefing on Westport Master-Planning ExerciseDownload
Minute 38 – Cumulative Effects of Wasterwater DisposalDownload
Minute 37 – Sites of Significance to MāoriDownload
Ngai Tahu response to SASM Minute 37Download
Minute 36 – Ecosystems and Biodiversity HearingDownload
Minute 35 – Natural Hazards HearingDownload
Minute 34 – Directions following the Residential and Special Zones Hearings held at Greymouth on 16-18 JulDownload
Minute 33 – Updated hearing timetable August – November 2024Download
Minute 32 – Directions following the Mining and Mineral Extraction HearingDownload
Minute 31 – Open Space Zones Hearing change of dateDownload
Minute 30 – Information on Mining and Buller Coal ZonesDownload
Minute 29 – Buller Coalfield Zone at NgakawauDownload
Minute 28 – Advice on Panel’s Ability to Give Effect to Higher Order DocumentsDownload
Advice to Hearing Panel regarding higher order documentsDownload
Minute 27 – Updated hearing timetable end of May to November 2024Download
Minute 26 – Site of Significance to Māori, DirectionsDownload
Advice to Hearing Panel regarding Minute 26Download
Joint Memorandum of Counsel and also refers to Minute 26Download
Minute 25 – Section 42 request and evidence provided for SASM Download
Minute 24 – Site of Significance to Māori Section 42 requestsDownload
Minute 23 – Subdivision Financial Contributions and Public AccessDownload
Minute 22 – Strategic DirectionsDownload
– Attachment to Minute 22 – Strategic Directions Review, Lois Easton, 5 April 2024Download
Minute 21 – Natural Features and LandscapesDownload
Minute 20 – Energy Infrastructure and Transport UpdateDownload
Minute 19 – Updated hearing timetableDownload
Minute 18 – Energy Infrastructure and Transport Reconvened HearingDownload
Minute 17 – Provision of Evidence for Natural Features and Landscapes HearingDownload
Minute 16 – Strategic DirectionsDownload
MINUTE 15 – DesignationsDownload
MINUTE 14 – Ecosystems and Indigenous BiodiversityDownload
Minute 13 – Rescheduled hearing, online only hearing, late evidenceDownload
Minute 12 – Energy, Infrastructure and TransportDownload
MINUTE 11 – ONLINE ONLY HEARINGS FOR HEARINGS COMMENCING 6 AND 7 DECEMBER 2023Download
Minute 10 – LATE RELEASE OF EVIDENCE TO THE WEBSITEDownload
Minute 9- S42A REPORT NOISE EXTENSION OF TIMEDownload
MINUTE 8 – Conflicts of InterestDownload
MINUTE 7 – WAKA KOTAHI EXTENSION OF TIMEDownload
Minute 6 – Correction of Hearing Administrators Phone Number Download
Minute 5 – REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION OF TIMEFRAMES FOR PROVISION OF SUBMITTER EVIDENCEDownload
MINUTE 4 PROCESS FOR-MANAGING-SUBMISSIONS-THAT-ARE-MISSING-FROM-S42A-HEARINGS-REPORTS-OR-INCORRECTLY-SUMMARISEDDownload
MINUTE 3- REQUESTS FROM BATHURST RESOURCES LIMITED AND BT MINING LIMITEDDownload
ATTACHMENT TO MINUTE 3: MEMORANDUM ON BEHALF OF BATHURST RESOURCES LIMITED AND BT MINING LIMITED ON MINUTE 2 – HEARING PROCEDURES AND TIMETABLESDownload
MINUTE 2 – HEARING INFORMATION AND PROCEDURESDownload
MINUTE 1 – INITIAL INTRODUCTION AND
CONFLICTS ON INTERESTDownload
Commissioners Register of InterestsDownload