People

Kate Woods

Special Counsel

Environment & Planning and Local Government

T +64 3 379 7622 M +64 27 335 1079

Specialist areas of practice

  • Regional and district planning and consenting
  • Fast-track consenting
  • Environmental law
  • Local government strategy and advisory

Kate is a Special Counsel in the local government and environment & planning team, based in Christchurch. She acts for both regional and district councils and private clients on complex resource management issues.

She specialises in the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) as it relates to planning, resource consents, enforcement and due diligence for commercial projects. Kate is regularly involved in large scale consenting projects working with project teams involving experts from a wide range of disciplines.  She also advises clients  seeking approvals under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Kate has appeared before council hearing panels, the Environment Court and High Court on various local government and environmental matters She also has significant experience in administrative and local government law, including judicial review proceedings.

Kate is a member of the Resource Management Law Association’s Christchurch Branch Committee and has served as its treasurer for several years.