This one-day workshop is designed to provide participants with a detailed understanding of how to prepare effective and sound s.42 reports, prepare relevant s.104 recommendations to a range of decision makers with effective and enforceable conditions.

This workshop will also assist you to understand your role as a reporting officer, improve your report writing skills, your role during a hearing process and dealing with Hearing Commissioners questioning.

The workshop draws on presenter Dr Lee Beattie’s extensive experience, including as an Independent Hearing Commissioner and covers all the relevant issues arising from the 2020 amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991. It is based around up-to-date case studies, interactive examples and exercises drawing on the relevant case law and how these should be applied in practice, including:

  • Davison v Marlborough District Council 2017
  • Toasti v Auckland Council 2016
  • Oddfellows v Auckland Council, 2016
  • Blue Sky Timber v TCDC 2006
  • Ports of Auckland v Auckland Council 2015
  • Rodney District Council v Gould 2006
  • Queenstown Central Limited v Queenstown Lakes District Council 2013
  • Arnott vs. North Shore City Council 2000
  • Newbury DC v Sec of State for Environment 1981


An understanding of:

  • The role of a reporting officer within the hearings process and how to present effective evidence to a range of decision makers
  • How to write a legally and technically sound s.42A report, appropriate to the nature and type of the resource consent application under consideration
  • How to assess the opinions of other experts by reference to the policy direction of the relevant planning documents
  • How to clearly communicate the reasons for your recommendations to the decision maker.
  • Develop effective and enforceable conditions
  • Recognise what it takes to write in plain English and communicate your ideas to wide range of different audiences

Presented by:

  • Dr Lee Beattie

    Dr Lee Beattie is urban planner and designer with over 25 years professional experience in an extensive range of urban planning and design issues. He has worked in both local government and private practice and is currently a Hearing Commissioner for Auckland Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council, Deputy Head of the University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning and a rotating Chair of Auckland Council’s Urban Design Panel.




Event Queries

If you have any questions about registrations, please email events@planning.org.nz.

Registrations Close

Monday 27th September.

Late Registrations

If you cannot see an 'Add to Cart' button above, it means online registrations have closed. If there are still tickets available we may be able to accept late registrations, please click here if you are interested in attending.


Zoom Link

This will be emailed to all attendees after registrations have closed. If you do not receive the link, please check your junk/spam folder before contacting the office.


NOTE - If you are interested in attending a workshop please register early to ensure it goes ahead. Minimum numbers are required for a workshop to run. This generally ensures there is sufficient people to allow different experience and views to be part of the discussion within the course setting. Registrations for online events normally close 3 days prior to the event.

Please see the terms and conditions for our cancellation and transfer policy. Thank you