Minutes of the expert panel
23 October 2026 – Minute 14
The expert panel issued Minute 14 regarding the memorandum from the Director-General of Conservation, seeking directions and comments from Te Pouwhenua o Tiakiriri Kūkupa Trust.
22 October 2026 – Minute 13
The expert panel issued Minute 13 regarding acceptance of a late comment.
Minute 13 of the expert panel (PDF, 118 KB)
8 October 2026 – Minute 12
The expert panel issued Minute 12 regarding an update on the current suspension of the application.
Minute 12 of the expert panel (PDF, 130 KB)
2 October 2026 – Minute 11
The expert panel issued Minute 11 regarding ecology.
Minute 11 of the expert panel (PDF, 159 KB)
21 September 2026 – Minute 10
The expert panel issued Minute 10 regarding an update on the timing of the current suspension of the application.
Minute 10 of the expert panel (PDF, 139 KB)
4 September 2026 – Minute 9
The expert panel issued Minute 9 regarding the applicant's update on the continued suspension.
Minute 9 of the expert panel (PDF, 129 KB)
26 August 2026 – Minute 8
The expert panel issued Minute 8 regarding parties’ comments on geotechnical information.
Minute 8 of the expert panel (PDF, 129 KB)
11 August 2026 – Minute 7
The expert panel issued Minute 7 regarding suspension of processing of application. The suspension will start from 12 August 2026.
Minute 7 of the expert panel (PDF, 270 KB)
10 August 2026 – Minute 6
The expert panel issued Minute 6 regarding record of site visit, information requests and technical reports.
Minute 6 of the expert panel (PDF, 182 KB)
4 August 2026 – Minute 5
The expert panel issued Minute 5 regarding a site visit and mihi whakatau.
Minute 5 of the expert panel (PDF, 149 KB)
16 July 2026 – Minute 4
The expert panel issued Minute 4 regarding the appointment of technical advisers.
Minute 4 of the expert panel (PDF, 120 KB)
15 July 2026 – Minute 3
The expert panel issued Minute 3 regarding invitation to comment.
Minute 3 of the expert panel (PDF, 588 KB)
9 July 2026 – Minute 2
The expert panel issued Minute 2 regarding the project overview conference and appointment of technical adviser.
Minute 2 of the expert panel (PDF, 130 KB)
8 July 2026 – Minute 1
The expert panel issued Minute 1 regarding a further information request to the applicant under section 67 of the Fast-track Act.
Minute 1 of the expert panel (PDF, 70 KB)
Correspondence to the expert panel
22 October 2026
The applicant provided the expert panel with their response to the recent procedural memorandum filed by the Department of Conservation on behalf of the Director-General of Conservation (DOC).
Applicant's Memorandum of Counsel (PDF, 140 KB)
20 October 2026
The Director-General of conservation seeking directions following uplifting of first suspension.
Department of Conservation's Memorandum of Counsel (PDF, 140 KB)
7 October 2026
The applicant provided an update on the suspension of processing of the Alternative to the Brynderwyn application.
Applicant's Memorandum of Counsel regarding suspension update (PDF, 140 KB)
3 September 2026
The applicant provided an update on the suspension of processing of the Alternative to the Brynderwyn application.
Applicant's email for the suspension update (PDF, 227 KB)
28 August 2026
The applicant provided an update on the suspension of processing of the Alternative to the Brynderwyn application.
Memorandum of counsel suspension update (PDF, 93KB)
10 August 2026
The applicant requested the suspension of processing of the Alternative to the Brynderwyn application.
Memorandum of counsel requesting a suspension (PDF, 357 KB)
14 July 2026
The applicant provided the expert panel with a memorandum of counsel regarding procedural suggestions.
Applicant's memorandum of counsel (PDF, 126 KB)
The applicant provided the expert panel with additional and updated application materiel. You can find this material on the substantive application page.
Applicant's letter to panel (PDF, 200 KB)
2 July 2026
The expert panel received Te Parawhau's cultural impact assessment.
Te Parawhau Cultural Impact Assessment (PDF, 563 KB)
Minutes of the panel convener
26 June 2026 − Minute 5
The panel convener issued Minute 5 regarding the appointment of the expert panel.
Minute 5 of the panel convener (PDF, 567 KB)
24 June 2026 − Minute 4
The panel convener issued Minute 4 regarding the post-conference direction.
Minute 4 of the panel convener (PDF, 139 KB)
12 June 2026 − Minute 3
The panel convener issued Minute 3 regarding the post-conference decision.
Minute 3 of the panel convener (PDF, 439 KB)
21 May 2026 − Minute 2
The panel convener issued Minute 2 regarding the convener conference.
Minute 2 of the panel convener (PDF, 459 KB)
29 April 2026 − Minute 1
The panel convener issued Minute 1 directing the EPA to obtain advice and a report from:
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (and the Māori Heritage Council)
the Department of Conservation.
The advice and reports are sought under s51 of the Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024.
Minute 1 of the panel convener (PDF, 135 KB)
Correspondence to the panel convenor
26 June 2026
Applicant
At the request of the panel convener, the applicant, New Zealand Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi, provided a memorandum of counsel in response to Minute 3 and DOC response on the 19 June 2026.
Memorandum of counsel from the applicant (PDF, 83 KB)
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua
At the request of the panel convener, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua provided their response to Minute 3 and 4.
Memorandum of counsel from Ngāti Whātua (PDF, 130 KB)
22 June 2026
The applicant, New Zealand Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi, provided a memorandum of counsel in response to Minute 3.
Memorandum of counsel from the applicant (PDF, 190 KB)
19 June 2026
At the request of the panel convener, the Department of Conservation provided a memorandum of counsel in response to Minute 3.
Memorandum of counsel from DOC (PDF, 239 KB)
11 June 2026
The applicant provided a memorandum of counsel acknowledging timeframes.