Legal assistance
Find out ways to get legal advice if you're representing yourself plus how to apply to a fund to get legal assistance.
Legal advice
If you are thinking about lodging a proceeding in the Environment Court, or joining a proceeding under section 274 of the Resource Management Act 1991 you should consider seeking legal advice. You can find an environment lawyer through the New Zealand Law Society, Resource Management Law Association or your local Community Law Centre.
Court staff can advise you on the court processes, but they cannot provide you with legal advice.
Legal Aid
Legal aid is government funding to pay for legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Legal aid is an important part of New Zealand's justice system. It helps people to resolve legal problems that may go to court and makes sure that people are not denied justice because they can't afford a lawyer.
Under section 7(o) of the Legal Services Act 2011 legal aid may be granted in relation to all applications, submissions, and appeals under the Resource Management Act 1991(external link) or to the Environment Court under any other Act.
Information on Legal Aid in New Zealand(external link)
Environmental Legal Assistance Fund
The Ministry for the Environment has an Environmental Legal Assistance Fund. Applications can be made for assistance from the Fund to help pay for legal and other professional assistance in resource management litigation. The fund is only available to New Zealand environmental, community, iwi and hapū groups, not individuals.
Ministry for the Environment’s Environmental Legal Assistance Fund(external link)
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