Fast-Track Approvals Bill - Fees for Expert Panel Members
Thank you to those members who provided recent feedback via our member survey. We had over 200 responses and you can read our response to the Ministry for the Environment here:
There is strong consensus that panel members, especially experienced professionals should be remunerated at or more than their standard market rates, which vary considerably and respectively within each profession (i.e. there are no standard market rates).
Daily rates for lawyers were often cited between $2,000 and $5,000 (excluding gst), with the maximum daily rate being $8,000 (excluding gst)
Non lawyer specialists, including te ao Māori experts, have daily rates ranging between $1,600 and $4,800 excluding gst
Key themes/comments from our respondents can be summarised as:
The current fast track consenting rates fail to attract experienced and high-caliber professionals, especially given the demanding and high-pressure nature of fast-track panels. Even mid-low market rates are widely viewed as unsustainable and inadequate to attract the level of expertise required for the new FTA.
There is a need for differentiated rates based on the role (e.g., panel chair vs. panel members) and expertise (e.g., lawyers, planners, technical specialists).
There is a need for remuneration to account for pre-hearing preparation, travel, accommodation, and other disbursements, which are often excluded from current rates. The extensive time spent on reading, deliberations, and decision drafting is emphasized as being inadequately compensated under flat daily rates, with a preference for hourly billing or adjustments for the actual time worked.
Respondents suggest that slightly higher-than-market rates or flexible arrangements (e.g., part-time commitments) could help attract a broader and more diverse pool of candidates.
Respondents argue that under-compensating panel members risks compromising the quality of decisions, which could lead to inefficiencies, delays, or suboptimal project outcomes.
