On 21 May 2021, the panel convener appointed the panel to decide the application. The panel consists of:

Jan Caunter (Chair)

Jan Caunter is a Tauranga-based barrister and solicitor with expertise in resource management and public law. Jan was previously based in Auckland and Wanaka and was a partner in the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) teams of two leading law firms in Auckland. 

Jan has been practising law for close to 30 years. Her experience includes acting for clients on a variety of major development projects nationwide, representation in resource consent and plan change hearings, judicial review, designations and contaminated land/ hazardous substances. Jan’s particular area of expertise is in waste management, and she advises clients in this area throughout the North Island. She has also represented a number of community groups opposed to development in their area. 

Jan is a chair endorsed, certified Independent Commissioner.  She has chaired a number of panels making decisions on subdivision and development, private plan changes and the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act. Many of these have been in the Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago District.  Most recently, Jan chaired a panel appointed to decide an application to develop a new town centre at Omokoroa, near Tauranga.

David Hill (member)

David Hill is an experienced RMA practitioner and has worked under the Act in various capacities since its commencement in 1991 (and with its preceding legislation). His practice is operated from Auckland. 

He is a chair endorsed, certified Independent Commissioner and has practiced in that capacity full time since 2012 – primarily across the North Island as well as on national panels – including Boards of Inquiry under the RMA and Decision-making Committees under the EEZ Act. He also sits regularly on matters under the Reserves Act, Local Government Act and the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act.

In terms of the Ohinewai Foam Factory application, he is regularly engaged as a commissioner and expert facilitator by the Regional and City/District Councils of the Waikato on plan changes, notices of requirement and resource consents, and is therefore very familiar with the strategic, planning and development issues of the region and across the “golden triangle” of Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga.

Tim Manukau (member)

Tim Manukau has significant experience in the RMA, Iwi-Māori planning, mātauranga māori and treaty settlement negotiations. Tim has been an independent commissioner on resource consent hearings, sat on Environment Court-ordered expert panels, and decision-making panels under the Reserves Act and Local Government Act.

Tim has experience in being an applicant, involved in the development of Plan Changes, and as a submitter. Tim has led the formation and coordination of a number of tangata whenua working groups on projects that were of national importance. Tim has represented a wide range of iwi, corporates, councils, community and environmental groups on RMA matters.