On 23 June 2025, the Sunfield expert consenting panel commenced work. The panel consists of:
Philip Maw (chair)
Philip is a senior Partner at Wynn Williams. He graduated with BSc/LLB from the University of Canterbury in 2004.
As a nationally recognised expert in environmental and resource management law, Philip is the lead legal advisor to some of New Zealand's largest local authorities, including in relation to planning and consenting projects of national significance. He is a highly skilled advocate who has regularly appeared as lead counsel on contentious resource management matters, including on judicial review proceedings in the Supreme Court.
Formerly the National Managing Partner of Wynn Williams, Philip has also chaired a number of governance boards. He is a member of the Resource Management Law Association and has served on its National Committee.
Philip is recommended as a leading lawyer in New Zealand by a number of legal directories, including Doyle’s Guide 2025 for Environment and Resource Management, Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 for Projects and Resource Management, Chambers and Partners 2025 for Environment and Resource Management, and Best Lawyers 2025 for Environmental Law.
Dr Lee Beattie
Dr Lee Beattie is an urban designer and urban planner with almost 30 years of professional experience in an extensive range of complex urban design and urban planning matters, and has qualifications in urban design, urban planning, and environmental science. Lee has worked in both the public (local government) and private sectors and is currently an Associate Professor of Urban Design and the Head of the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Planning.
He is an independent hearing commissioner for several local councils in New Zealand and has been appointed to New Zealand government panels and advisory boards covering a range of urban design and planning issues influencing government policy and legislative changes. In March 2025 he was made a Fellow of the New Zealand Planning Institute, is a professional member of the Royal Society of New Zealand and is a Registered Urban Designer.
Vaughan Smith
Vaughan is an experienced sole practitioner resource management consultant with dual qualifications in planning and civil engineering. During his 20-year planning career he has specialised in the preparation of resource consent applications and applications for private plan changes, primarily for large-scale commercial and mixed-use developments. In this role he has also appeared before council hearing panels, and the Environment Court and High Court. He is an accredited independent hearing commissioner and has been a panel member for Auckland Council hearings since 2017. Prior to qualifying as a planner, Vaughan worked as a consultant civil engineer, and in the construction and development sectors of the property industry.
Register of Interests
The register records all relevant panel members' interests and is updated, when necessary, throughout the consenting process.