Parnell lawyers threaten court over ‘unacceptable bias’ in panel deciding suburb intensification

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Economic researcher Stuart Donovan has come under attack for expressing allegedly “biased” views about intensification.

A group of prominent lawyers has told Auckland Council it will be launching legal proceedings if a “biased” intensification panel member does not stand down.

However, Minister Chris Bishop says he remains confident in the selection of Stuart Donovan, while colleagues say Donovan is an “international expert”.

It comes as a hearings panel is set to consider Plan Change 120 - a zoning proposal that will see 1.6 million more houses in Auckland, with a focus on building up in suburbs within 10km of the CBD.

As part of the process, the government was able to handpick a number of panel appointees - among them Donovan, from the Motu research institute. He previously told RNZ he would “love to see a lot more development in central areas”.

“If we dont we are going to see more sprawl,” he said. “I think we’ve kind of got ourselves in a delusion recently that we can just build townhouses and small apartment buildings and that will be enough … I don’t think we’ve fully embraced the benefits of height and really allowing buildings of up to 20 storeys tall.”

A consortium of lawyers informally known as “the Parnell group”, represented by Helen Andrews has called for him to be stood down.

The group has previously been backed by ex-Environment Court judge Laurie Newhook, however he clarified to The Post he was not involved in the allegations of bias made of Donovan.

In their letter, the Parnell group said it was “absolutely unacceptable” that someone with “such clear bias” could remain on the panel, writing a strongly-worded letter to Auckland Council that claimed Donovan’s position was “a political appointment” that breached “natural justice”.

Inner city “character” suburbs are likely to be zoned for tall apartment buildings under the proposed Plan Change 120.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we are instructed to take [legal] action to achieve that outcome, if Dr Donovan does not voluntarily resign or is not removed from the Panel, in a timely manner. We trust that will not be necessary.”

The Post approached Donovan via his institute and was told he was “unable to comment under his contract”.

Lobby group, the Character Coalition, also wrote to ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka calling for Donovan’s removal.

“If neither of these suggestions are taken up, and there is no satisfactory response to this letter by 16 March 2026, the Character Coalition intends to bring proceedings in the High Court to resolve the matter urgently.”

The Coalition cited a published academic paper, of which Donovan was an author, which called for “strengthened sanctions” on some economic expert witnesses.

“Guidelines and sanctions could, for example, be strengthened to encourage expert witnesses to represent the economic evidence in an accurate and balanced manner,” it said.

“Assigning equal merit to ‘both sides’ of the debate on zoning reforms strikes us as a false equivalency.”

The Coalition said it raised questions as to whether Donovan could be said to be “independent” and have “an open mind”.

“In case the Ministers think they are unable to revoke an [appointment] decision already made, we are copying this letter to Dr Donovan, inviting him to stand down voluntarily,” its letter said.

Minister responsible for RMA reform Chris Bishop is “satisfied” with Donovan’s appointment.

In a response seen by The Post, Minster for RMA Reform Chris Bishop said he remained “satisfied” with Donovan’s appointment.

Bishop said that Donovan had completed a “Making Good Decisions course” in November last year.

“I am confident he will approach the hearings with an open mind, and that any perceived conflicts of interest can be adequately managed,” Bishop said.

Patrick Reynolds of the Greater Auckland advocacy group also backed Donovan, saying he was an “internationally recognised expert in urban economics”.

Patrick Reynolds, Director of Greater Auckland.

“Disputing this simple fact is like challenging the referee before the game even starts, because you don't think you can win in a fair match.”

Reynolds said the Parnell group ought to focus their energy and resource on “getting great new buildings and community spaces”.

“One of the reasons Auckland has ended up with a housing crisis is because residents of well-resourced areas use their wealth and influence to try and prevent more housing in the places that are best-suited to becoming livelier, more multi-generational communities.”

He said the suburb of Parnell had “unparalleled access” to employement, education, entertainment and health resources and should continue to change with the times.

“Nurses, cleaners and teachers should be able to live close to work, not just brain surgeons, bankers and judges.”

But Sally Hughes of the Character Coalition said it was “such a narrow view to blame wealthy people”.

“Character areas belong to everyone, not just the people that own the houses … If this generation decides to get rid of them, future generations will be horrified.”

Clarification: This story has been amended to reflect that former Environment Judge Laurie Newhook’s association with previous submissions made by the ‘Parnell group’ did not extend to the allegations of bias made of Stuart Donovan. Changes made 2.12pm, March 18, 2026.