Expert panel

On 28 November 2025, the panel convener appointed the expert panel. The panel consists of:

Gerald Lanning (chair)

Gerald Lanning is a Consultant (previously a Partner) in Simpson Grierson's Planning and Environment team.

He advises on all aspects of resource management and local government law, with a focus on large infrastructure projects, land transport management and policy and Māori/Treaty of Waitangi issues.

Gerald has appeared for clients before a range of judicial bodies including local authority hearing panels, boards of inquiry, the Environment Court and the appellate courts. He co-leads Te Paringa Tai, the firm’s Māori business group.

Gerald has recently submitted his PhD thesis at Waipapa Taumata Rau|University of Auckland and has published several book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. Gerald has chaired hearings panels under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act 2020.

Reg Proffit

Reginald is based in Gisborne where he is Director Pou Arataki (Māori) for WSP NZ. He has held roles on Expert Panels and Boards of Inquiry under the RMA, EEZ and Covid-19 Fast-track legislation, including considering: Exploration Drilling from South Seas Ltd, Karaka North Village application, Papakura to Drury State Highway 1 Improvements application and the Hananui Open Water Aquaculture application.

Reginald has held local government management positions in policy and strategy, and resource and building consent sectors and in addition to this, Reginald brings significant independent and private sector experience. He brings a strong background in environmental and resource management planning across the New Zealand planning industry.

Reginald has a strong foundation in complex processes and brings extensive practical experience including: Alliance Leadership Team for Transport Rebuild East Coast and currently involved in delivering Mill Road NOR. He is sought-after nationally by various local government authorities as an independent RMA hearings commissioner and independent facilitator.

Reginald brings a unique skill set with extensive experience working within a Māori cultural frame that integrates with local government and resource management processes.

Reginald received a Distinguished Service Award for his years of leadership of the Papa Pounamu Māori Planners group and his contribution to planning in New Zealand.

Martin Neale

Martin Neale is a scientist and a Director at Puhoi Stour Limited. Martin has over 20 years’ experience in the areas of: aquatic science, in particular freshwater systems; application of scientific information to the management of the natural environment; terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments.

Martin has led and coordinated a wide range of environmental research and monitoring projects in roles in government, research institutes and consultancy, including as an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Auckland since 2012.

He has been a member of many expert panels for the Ministry of the Environment including National Objectives Framework (NOF) expert group member (periphyton and invertebrates).

Martin has been an independent commissioner for Auckland Council since 2024, although he has been an accredited commissioner since 2019.

Register of interests

The register records all relevant panel members' interests, and is updated, when necessary, throughout the consenting process.