Office of the Chief Freshwater Commissioner
The Office of the Chief Freshwater Commissioner supports the operation of the Freshwater Planning Process under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
The Freshwater Planning Process is a specialist planning pathway established under Part 4 of Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
Where applicable, the process enables freshwater planning instruments to be considered by independent freshwater hearings panels. These panels hear submissions and make recommendations in accordance with statutory requirements.
Recent legislative changes have narrowed the circumstances in which the Freshwater Planning Process may be used. However, the process remains available in certain situations provided for under the current legislation.
The Chief Freshwater Commissioner is appointed by the Minister for the Environment. The role helps ensure that freshwater planning instruments are considered through an independent and expert-led process.
The Chief is responsible for:
- appointing freshwater hearings panels when required
- overseeing the operation of the Freshwater Planning Process
- managing the pool of freshwater commissioners
- considering statutory matters relating to hearings panels and process administration.
Freshwater commissioners are appointed by the Minister for the Environment and provide specialist expertise to support the Freshwater Planning Process.
Collectively, commissioners bring expertise in:
- resource management law and planning
- freshwater science and ecology
- judicial processes and hearings
- tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori
- governance and public decision-making.
The current Chief Freshwater Commissioner is:
- Judge Brian Dwyer (Chief Freshwater Commissioner)
The current freshwater commissioners are:
- Dhilum Nightingale
- Lynda Murchison
- Dr Greg Ryder
- Dr Ian Boothroyd
- Kitt Littlejohn
For enquiries relating to the Office of the Chief Freshwater Commissioner or the Freshwater Planning Process, contact: