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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Fast-track Approvals Act 2024

Fast-track approvals process - Panel consideration of substantive application - Hearing of panel

59: Remote access hearing

You could also call this:

“Attending a hearing from home using video calls”

You can attend a hearing using remote access facilities like video conferencing. The panel in charge of the hearing can decide to hold the entire hearing or part of it remotely. They can make this decision on their own, or if you or someone else involved in the hearing asks for it.

If the hearing is held remotely, the panel will try to make it available for you to watch live and for free, usually on a website. If they can’t do that, they will provide either a recording of the hearing or a written transcript after it’s over. They will put this recording or transcript on a website that anyone can access for free.

The panel might decide not to make the hearing public if there’s a good reason to keep it private. They follow rules about when they can do this.

Remember, these rules are designed to make sure you can still participate in or watch hearings even if you can’t be there in person.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS987112.

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58: Other provisions about conduct of hearing, or

"Rules for how hearings should be run in a simple and fair way"

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60: When processing of substantive application may be suspended, or

"When the EPA can stop looking at your main request for a while"

Part 2 Fast-track approvals process
Panel consideration of substantive application: Hearing of panel

59Remote access hearing

  1. A panel may direct that a hearing or part of a hearing be held using 1 or more remote access facilities—

  2. on the initiative of the panel; or
    1. at the request of the applicant; or
      1. at the request of a person, or a representative of a group of persons, referred to in section 57(1).

        1. If a hearing is held using a remote access facility, a panel must,—

        2. if it is reasonably practicable to do so, enable access to the hearing by making it available live and free of charge to the public, for example, on an internet site; or
          1. after the hearing closes, make available, in accordance with subsection (3),—
            1. an audio or a video recording of the hearing; or
              1. a written transcript of the hearing.

              2. A recording or transcript that is made available under subsection (2)(b) must be published on an internet site that is administered by or on behalf of the EPA and is publicly available as far as practicable and free of charge.

              3. Subsection (2) is subject to section 48 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (right of local authorities to exclude public).

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