Amy Robinson
Director | Independent RMA Hearing Commissioner | Resource Management & Coastal Specialist
Amy Robinson is an experienced resource management practitioner and independent RMA Hearing Commissioner with more than 22 years' experience across local and central government, development agencies and private practice.
She specialises in complex resource management, consenting and environmental issues, with particular expertise in coastal management, coastal hazards, climate adaptation and regulatory decision-making.
Amy brings a perspective that is unusual within the resource management sector. Her career has included roles as a planner, regulator, senior regulatory manager, central government adviser, consultant and independent decision-maker. This enables her to understand complex issues from multiple perspectives and to provide advice that is both technically sound and practical.
Amy co-established Environment Innovation and Strategy Ltd to provide independent, focused resource management advice on projects where experience, sound judgement and a clear understanding of the regulatory system are important.
Independent Commissioner
Amy is an accredited independent RMA Hearing Commissioner and undertakes independent decision-making and hearing roles for local authorities.
Her current and recent commissioner experience :
Christchurch City Council – Coastal Hazards Panel
Tauranga City Council – Independent Regulatory Panel
Environment Canterbury – Southshore and New Brighton protection structures decision
Waikato District Council – Port Waikato seawall consent decision
Western Bay of Plenty District Council – Glen Isla seawall decision
Environment Canterbury – Duty Commissioner
Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council – Shaw Road seawall (to be scheduled)
Her previous experience as Regional Consents Manager at Waikato Regional Council, together with her extensive planning and regulatory background, provides a strong foundation for assessing complex applications and technical evidence and making well-reasoned, independent decisions.
Coastal Management
Coastal management is a particular area of expertise and interest for Amy.
She has more than 20 years' experience working on coastal planning, consenting and management issues for councils, government agencies, infrastructure organisations and community groups.
Her experience includes:
Coastal hazard management
Coastal erosion and inundation
Coastal structures and seawalls
Ports and dredging
Marinas, jetties and boat ramps
Reclamation
Boardwalks and coastal infrastructure
Mangrove management
Beach scraping
Marine farming
Coastal planning and regional plan development
Amy has worked on coastal matters from both regulatory and applicant perspectives, including planning, consent assessment, policy development, strategic advice and independent decision-making.
She is a former Chair and executive committee member of the New Zealand Coastal Society and holds an MSc in Physical Coastal Processes.
Climate Adaptation & Resilience
Amy has a particular interest in climate adaptation, especially in relation to coastal environments and infrastructure.
Her work in this area includes:
Shoreline management and coastal adaptation
Infrastructure adaptation and resilience
Climate adaptation strategy
Adaptation roles and responsibilities
Coastal hazard decision-making
Amy was the Establishment Lead for the Aotearoa Society of Adaptation Professionals | Rōpū Urutaunga Aotearoa (ASAP | RUA), establishing New Zealand's first professional society for adaptation practitioners. She is now a member of the ASAP | RUA Board.
Resource Management & Consenting
Amy provides specialist planning and resource management advice on complex projects and regulatory issues.
Her experience includes:
Resource consent applications and assessments
Consenting strategies
Environmental effects assessment
Planning and policy analysis
Regional plan development and submissions
Fast-track consenting
Infrastructure projects
Compliance and regulatory systems
Planning feasibility and project advice
Selected project experience includes work on major infrastructure, mining, dredging, water security, transport, coastal and environmental projects.
Amy has worked for applicants, councils, government agencies and community organisations, giving her a broad understanding of the different interests and perspectives that need to be considered when navigating complex resource management matters.
Regulatory leadership
Before establishing EIS, Amy held senior regulatory and planning positions with Waikato Regional Council, the Department of Conservation and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
As Regional Consents Manager at Waikato Regional Council, Amy led a regulatory function of 53 staff across six teams, with responsibility for resource consent processing and compliance monitoring under the RMA and Building Act.
She led organisational restructuring and process improvements, worked with senior leadership and elected members, and led regulatory work associated with fast-track consenting.
At the Department of Conservation, Amy held national planning leadership roles covering RMA and EEZ Act advocacy, regional coastal planning and the development of the Department's RMA-EEZ strategy. She also played a role in the development and implementation of fast-track consenting processes for the Department.
Earlier in her career, Amy worked in coastal planning and resource consenting roles at Waikato Regional Council and Beca.
A practical and independant approach
Amy's approach is grounded in experience across the full resource management system.
She understands the pressures faced by applicants seeking to deliver projects, the information regulators need to make sound decisions, the importance of robust technical evidence and the need to achieve practical environmental outcomes.
She particularly enjoys working on projects where the issues are complex, the answer is not immediately obvious, or where an independent perspective can help clarify the way forward.
Clients engage Amy when they need:
Experienced judgement-
More than two decades working across planning, regulation, policy and decision-making.
An independent perspective-
Clear, objective analysis of complex resource management issues.
Regulatory insight-
A practical understanding of how resource consent and regulatory processes operate from inside government.
Specialist coastal expertise-
Extensive experience in coastal planning, hazards, structures, development and adaptation.
Practical solutions-
Advice that focuses on achieving sound environmental and planning outcomes rather than simply identifying problems.
Professional affiliations
Amy is a member of:
Aotearoa Society of Adaptation Professionals | Rōpū Urutaunga Aotearoa – Board Member
Resource Management Law Association
New Zealand Coastal Society – former Chair and executive committee member
Contact Amy
If you are dealing with a complex resource management, coastal or climate adaptation issue and would value an experienced independent perspective, please get in touch with Amy.
Amy Robinson
Director | Environment Innovation and Strategy Ltd
Tauranga, New Zealand