Info: Fast-track team offline 25 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
The application portal and this website remain available.

Minutes of the expert panel

11 November 2025 − Minute 1

The expert panel issued Minute 1 regarding applicant briefing and site visit, s67 further information request and recording their decision on which parties are to be invited to comment.

Minute 1 of the expert panel (PDF, 418KB)

Minutes of the panel convener

15 October 2025 — Minute regarding appointments and timeframe

The panel convener issued a minute regarding the expert panel appointments and the application timeframe.

Minute of the panel convener regarding panel appointments and timeframe (PDF, 160KB)

10 October 2025 – Minute regarding correspondence received 

The panel convener issued a minute regarding correspondence received regarding panel appointment process

Minute of the panel convener regarding correspondence received (PDF, 275KB)

2 October 2025 – Minute regarding post-conference directions

The panel convener issued a minute regarding post-conference directions to conference participants.

Minute of the panel convener regarding post-conference directions (PDF, 127KB)

26 September 2025 – Minute regarding conference

The panel convener issued a minute regarding the planned conference on 1 October 2025.

Minute of the panel convener regarding the convener conference (PDF, 217KB)

8 September 2025 – Minute requesting section 51 report

The panel convener issued a minute requesting a section 51 report from the Director-General of Conservation and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the Māori Heritage Council.

On 17 September 2025 the panel convener amended the section 51 report.

Minute of the panel convener requesting the s51 report (PDF, 142KB)

Correspondence to the panel

7 November 2025

The applicant provided a memorandum of counsel regarding proposed process and timing.

Memorandum of counsel from the applicant (PDF, 146KB)

8 May 2025

Powerco provided a letter requesting to comment.

Letter from Powerco (PDF, 241KB)

Correspondence to the panel convener

10 October 2025

The Director-General of Conservation provided a memorandum of counsel regarding a response to Minute regarding post-conference directions.

Memorandum of counsel from Director-General of Conservation (PDF, 87KB)

A joint memorandum on behalf of the applicant, local authorities and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga was provided regarding a response to Minute regarding post-conference directions.

Joint memorandum of counsel from the applicant, local authorities and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (PDF, 556KB)

Ngāti Taka provided a memorandum of counsel regarding a response to Minute regarding post-conference directions.

Memorandum of counsel from Ngāti Taka (PDF, 141KB)

Pirirākau provided a memorandum regarding a response to Minute regarding post-conference directions.

Memorandum from Pirirākau (PDF, 814KB)

Annex 1 Memorandum Pirirākau (PDF,173KB)