Panel conveners
The Minister for Infrastructure will appoint panel conveners who are responsible for appointing the members of each expert panel.
Associate panel conveners
The Minister may, after consulting the other relevant portfolio Ministers, appoint one of the following to be an associate panel convener:
a former (including retired) Environment Judge
a former (including retired) High Court Judge
a senior lawyer with expertise in resource management.
The panel convener, in consultation with the Minister for Infrastructure, can delegate any of their functions, duties, or powers under the Act to an associate panel convenor.
Expert panels
Expert panels are independent decision-making bodies and must be set up for each Fast-track project.
Expert panels are appointed for every project
The panel conveners appointed by the Minister for Infrastructure are responsible for appointing the members of each panel. The panel convenor will appoint a panel of up to four members.
The Fast-track function at EPA provides procedural advice and secretariat support to the panel convener, associate conveners and panels.
The panel convener, or associate convener, must appoint a suitably qualified lawyer or planner with experience in relevant law to be the chairperson of a panel. Alternatively, the panel convenor may serve as the chairperson of the panel.
The members of a panel must, collectively, have knowledge, skills, and expertise relevant to the approvals sought in the substantive application, and expertise in environmental matters. They must include at least 1 member who has an understanding of te ao Māori and Māori development. Panels must include a person nominated by the relevant local authorities.
We're currently identifying a pool of potential panel candidates with relevant knowledge, skills, and expertise.
News: Expressions of interest welcomed for potential expert panel members
Expert panels have a range of functions and powers
Panels have a range of functions and powers as part of considering applications and notices of requirement and making decisions. They can hold hearings, request or commission reports, request advice and invite comments.
Fast-track team provides advice and support to panels
Panels can regulate their own procedures. They must keep a full record of their proceedings.
The Fast-track team provides procedural advice and secretariat support to panels. We are not involved in the decision-making.
Hearings
There is no requirement for expert panels to hold a hearing. Each panel will decide if a hearing is required.
If a panel holds a hearing it may hear from:
the applicant
any person commissioned by the panel to write a report on the substantive application
any person or group that provided comments in response to an invitation by the panel.
These people will receive a notice of the hearing and must advise whether they will attend.
Application decisions
The expert panel issues a decision on the project. A copy of the decision will be published on this website. If the panel convenor has not set a timeframe, the panel must issue its decision within 30 working days of the deadline for receiving comments from invited parties.
The panel will provide a copy of its draft conditions and final decision to the applicant, relevant local authorities and administering agencies, and any persons or group that provided comments in response to an invitation by the panel.
The panel’s final decision can be appealed to the High Court on a question of law.