Matthew Palmer QC Will Represent Save The Basin At NZTA’s High Court Appeal

As reported by Wellington Scoop, the Save the Basin Campaign Inc will be represented by Matthew Palmer QC at the High Court, which will be hearing the New Zealand Transport Agency’s appeal against the Basin Bridge Board of Inquiry’s decision to decline resource consent for a Basin Reserve flyover.

We feel very fortunate to have secured the services of such a distinguished and experienced lawyer, with considerable experience of appeal court hearings, to represent us.

We are now fundraising to meet the costs of this appeal. You can donate via online banking or by mail – we encourage you to consider making a regular payment via online banking.

You can also donate online via Givealittle.

Basin Reserve rainbow. Photo: Patrick Morgan.
Basin Reserve rainbow. Photo: Patrick Morgan.

What Happens Next?

We don’t yet know the date of the High Court appeal, but it has now been confirmed that a case management conference – an organisational meeting that sets the stage for the hearing of the case itself – will be held on Monday 10 November 2014. We have heard that NZTA expects a decision in the case by mid-2015.

Unlike the Board of Inquiry, which was primarily focused on matters of fact, the High Court appeal will be primarily focused on matters of law. The NZTA has challenged a large number of aspects of the Board’s decision on legal grounds – we anticipate that some and possibly many of these grounds of appeal may be abandoned by NZTA before the case goes to trial. The appeal will be heard by Justice MacKenzie.

After the hearing, Justice MacKenzie will consider his decision, a process which could take several more months. He could, as far as I’m aware:

  • decline NZTA’s appeal
  • uphold it in whole or part and make an immediate determination on the issues
  • send the BOI decision back to the reconvened Board of Inquiry, with instructions to reconsider the decision taking into account the High Court judgement on some or all the legal matters raised by NZTA. The Board would not hear new submitter evidence.

We plan to be there, opposing NZTA every step of the way through the legal process at the same time as we advocate for better alternatives through the political process. We won in the Board of Inquiry, and with your help, we plan to keep winning.

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