Can I become involved in another person’s case?

• the Minister for the Environment
• a local authority
• the Attorney-General representing an aspect of the public interest
• a person who has an interest in the proceedings that is greater than the public generally (excluding any person or business who may be a trade competitor and is acting to prevent the applicant from engaging in trade competition)
• a person who made a submission about the matter (and is not excluded by the anti-trade competition provisions of the RMA).

To become a party you need to give notice to:

• the Environment Court, the relevant local authority, and the appellant (or person who commenced the proceedings) within 15 working days after the appeal period ends
• other parties within five working days of the deadline for joining the appeal.

There is a filing fee of $100 unless you are joining an appeal under sections 87G, 149T, 198E, and 198K of the RMA (direct referral provisions or proposals of national significance referred to the court).