News

Franks Ogilvie will be closed from 24 December 2025 - 11 January 2026.

The government is constantly examining policies, conducting investigations, and holding inquiries of various kinds. Some are small, happening within departments and rarely becoming public knowledge. Others deal with significant public policy issues or questions of ethical behaviour by officials.

Parliament’s Governance and Administration Committee is considering the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill (“Bill”). Franks Ogilvie submitted on this bill, making suggestions on how the Bill could better promote democratic accountability in local government and reduce wasteful spending.

Parliament’s Environment Committee is considering the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill (“Bill”). Franks Ogilvie submitted on the Bill, drawing on our experience advising clients under the current environmental and consenting system. We support the Bill’s direction but identify several opportunities to strengthen its ability to deliver timely, certain, and enabling development decisions.

Rather than delivering services directly, agencies now contract widely with private providers for core operations and specialist support. To manage risks and ensure public procurement is fair, competitive, and transparent, the government has adopted the Government Procurement Rules.

Two hapū successfully challenged the decision to refer Port of Tauranga’s wharf extension application to a fast-track consenting panel.

Franks Ogilvie submitted to Parliament’s Standing Orders Committee on the 2026 Review of Standing Orders, focused on how the House can strengthen its consideration of legislation.

The Court of Appeal upheld a decision to grant public law damages to two individuals who had been prejudiced by disclosure failures in a criminal prosecution.

The High Court dismissed a judicial review against the Judicial Conduct Commissioner’s recommendation to convene a panel to investigate alleged misconduct by District Court judge Ema Aitken.