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Anne Buchanan

she/herSpecial Counsel
Auckland
About

Anne Buchanan is an experienced lawyer with a strong focus in environment, resource management and local government law. Anne has advised range of local government clients, as well as private sector large corporates and industries. She has assisted private clients from a wide range of sectors including aquaculture, forestry/horticulture, transportation, mining and energy.

Anne has experience in resource consent issues, designations, plan drafting and interpretation and also provides advice on decision making processes and judicial review. She has represented clients at council level and in the Environment Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsEnergy and Natural ResourcesInfrastructure, Construction and Transport
Professional QualificationsBarrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, 1986

EXPERIENCE

  • Providing advice to a range of clients on private and council-initiated plan changes and resource consent applications, including advice and representation at mediation and Environment Court and High Court hearings.
  • Undertaking environmental due diligence for large commercial transactions in a range of sectors, including dairy and forestry.
  • Acting for Auckland Council on the hearing of appeals about Waste Management Limited's proposal to establish and operate a new landfill with a renewable energy facility in Wayby Valley.
  • Acting for Auckland Council in the Environment Court appeals about the Auckland Unitary Plan rural subdivision provisions and the appropriate location of the Rural Urban Boundary and zoning of land in Okura.
  • Acting for Auckland Council in its High Court appeal regarding the Auckland Unitary Plan rural subdivision provisions.
  • Obtaining requiring authority status and a designation for the Wiri Oil Service Limited Terminal.
  • Acting for Auckland Council in its successful defence of a civil action by a landowner in the District Court, relating to various claims against the Council for activities alleged to have caused the landowner damage and loss of use and enjoyment of the property.
  • Providing advice to Auckland Council on Public Works Act compensation issues in the context of a large roading and redevelopment project for Manukau.
  • Providing advice to Cornwall Park Trust Board on the interpretation of valuation provisions in ground leases and successfully defended declaratory judgment proceedings brought in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court by an association representing the Board's leaseholders.
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), 1986
  • University of Auckland, MJur, 1990

Prior Experience

  • Anne has legal experience both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and also previously worked as a linguistic consultant and trainer with an international non-profit organisation.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • New Zealand Law Society
  • Resource Management Law Association

My latest insights

Publication
Majestic oak tree_PPT

RMA reform at a glance

10 December 2025
Publication
Aerial_View_Of_Forest_Road_P_1179

Major changes proposed to national direction under the Resource Management Act 1991 what...

3 June 2025 .23 minute read

Publication
Sawyer_Camp_Recreation

Blueprint for New Zealand's resource management reform released by Expert Advisory Group

25 March 2025 .5 minute read

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Connect

Phone

+64 21 676 261
(Work)