Partner - Auckland
David Collins
David is a trusted local government expert, specialising in regulatory enforcement and public law.
David is a trusted local government expert, specialising in regulatory enforcement and public law.
About
David has been at the forefront of regulatory enforcement litigation involving local authorities, and has acted on some of the most significant and complex cases. In public law matters, David is experienced in defending judicial reviews and advising on effective local government decision-making, with a particular interest in bylaws and policy making. He also regularly provides specialist advice on investigation strategy, and embedding best practice policies, systems and training to sustain a successful regulatory compliance and enforcement function.
Recent Cases & Achievements
Queenstown Lakes District Council v Hensman [2024] NZHC 2493
Successful appeal on points of law confirming that s224(c) of the Resource Management Act 1991 is not a statutory duty enforceable against local authorities, and that a subdivision code of practice can be given legal effect under resource consent conditions.
R v AHCSL and Singh [2024] NZDC 3837
Prosecution under the Resource Management Act 1991 for breaches associated with significant scale earthworks and discharge offending in a contaminated closed land fill site.
Auckland Council v Guardian Retail 415 Ltd & Ors [2023] NZDC 26452
Prosecution of commercial scale illegal building work associated with a hospitality precinct.
Queenstown Lakes District Council v Silver Creek Ltd [2023] NZEnvC 191
Successful application for urgent ex parte interim enforcement orders to address immediate environmental risks.
Auckland Council v Paul [2022] NZHC 1898
Successful prosecutor's appeal overturning a decision not to impose a destruction order under the Dog Control Act 1996, and providing clarity on the threshold for provocation in the context of a claim of exceptional circumstances.
R v Lau [2018] NZHC 2935
Highest imprisonment sentence imposed to date on an RMA offender for complex multiple site offending, and upheld on appeal.
Da Jiang Fan v R [2017] NZCA 41
Defended multiple pre-trial applications, prosecuted defendant at RMA jury trial, and upheld on appeal.
Credentials
LLB/BA, University of Auckland