Transport (rail, road, air and sea) in New Zealand

Bell Gully offers an experienced transport practice, with clients including New Zealand’s most significant companies and operators such as Air New Zealand and Auckland Transport. In Wellington, Andrew Beatson is a key figure in the resource management and infrastructure spaces, and Hugh Kettle focuses on major infrastructure projects and banking transactions, working with public sector bodies. In Auckland, Natasha Garvan focuses on environmental and resource management matters.

Dentons Kensington Swan’s full-service transport department has a strong record in handling major PPP projects, and is a regular advisor to major New Zealand transport agencies. Auckland office managing partner and real estate specialist Matthew Ockleston worked with other key names Paul Buetow, Christina Sheard, and Nicky McIndoe advising NZ Transport Agency on the Northern Corridor Improvements Project. McIndoe leads the national environment and planning team, and her work focuses on the Resource Management Act, heritage, conservation, public works, and local government legislation relevant to infrastructure.

Russell McVeagh offers significant breadth and depth in the transportation sector. The firm advises on a range of matters in the aviation sector, including planning, regulatory control provisions of the Commerce Act, and on process and methodologies for establishing airport landing charges. On the shipping side, the team has specialist maritime law expertise and its expertise includes advice on chartering and drydocking arrangements and ports and berths access. Key partners in Auckland include Daniel Minhinnick, the national chair of the environment, planning and natural resources group, and Allison Arthur-Young, who specialises in development and large-scale infrastructure projects, along with district and regional planning policy. Simon Pilkinton advises infrastructure providers and major urban developers on all aspects of resource management and environmental law, with expertise in the water, municipal waste, and ports sectors. On the commercial side, Mei Fern Johnson advises on M&A and investment in (and procurement of) infrastructure, transport and energy (including oil and gas) projects, and collaborative contracting.

The Christchurch-based transport and logistics practice at Anthony Harper advises on a wide range of complex planning, transactional, and regulatory matters, including working with global freight forwarder, Hellmann on its novel Covid-related aircraft charter and block space purchase agreements with Air New Zealand for the carriage of freight. Key contact Chris Dann ‘provides very high-quality advice‘ and is an expert in the logistics and shipping sectors.

Focused on the shipping and logistics sectors, Hesketh Henry has a strong record in transactional and contentious matters, many of them with an international element. Clients praise its ‘strength in New Zealand admiralty law’ and board multi-jurisdictional expertise. Dual-qualified England and New Zealand maritime lawyer Simon Cartwright offers ‘practical advice and solutions’; he works alongside Alan Sherlock, a specialist in marine insurance, and transactional lawyer Ruth Allcoat.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts has extensive expertise advising constructors, developers and government bodies through all stages of the project lifecycle. Aviation, ports and maritime infrastructure are a core source of work, with matters encompassing funding, procurement and construction for large-scale projects. Key figures include Auckland-based infrastructure specialist Sarah Sinclair and corporate partner Mark Forman, and Wellington-based Briony Davies.