RMLA Post Graduate Scholarship for 2003

Mr Jim Milne, the President of the Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand Inc is pleased to announce that the Resource Management Law Association's Post Graduate Scholarship for 2003 has been awarded to Teresa Ann Weeks (nee Finlay) of Auckland.

Teresa, who already holds Bachelor of Arts (Politics) and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) Degrees from Victoria University of Wellington, intends to study for an MPhil in Land Economy at the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge in England.

When asked about her study plans Teresa advised that:

'The Department of Land Economy is a specialised multi-disciplinary department that focuses on the study of land, property, the environment and resource management. The two primary disciplines of the Department are law and economics.

The MPhil in Land Economy is a one year course that consists of a combination of taught papers and a research dissertation. Candidates are required to take research methodology papers and can select from a number of options. I intend to enrol in environmental law and policy papers such as Fundamentals of Environmental Law and Regulation and Advanced Environmental Law.

For the research component of the MPhil, I propose to write a dissertation in the area of transportation law and policy. I wish to conduct a comparative analysis of the legislative framework regulating transportation in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including the level of government control/intervention and the use of economic mechanisms (such as taxes and tolls). I intend to focus on the legislative and regulatory methods adopted to address problems of traffic congestion, and I am particularly interested in conducting a case study of the controversial congestion charging regime that was implemented in central London in February 2003.'

In addition to her academic career, and her work, Teresa has maintained an active involvement in Community Organisations as well as taking part in sporting activities and Travel. She also makes time for cooking and reading.

Teresa has been working as a solicitor in the resource management and environmental team at Chapman Tripp in Auckland since March 2001.

After completing her study at Cambridge, Teresa intends to continue a career in the environmental law and policy field and one of her long term goals is to become directly involved in the development, implementation and assessment of effective environmental policy in New Zealand and to assume a leading role in so doing.

The National Committee wishes Teresa well in her studies and in the achievement of her long term ambitions.

Jim Wiltshire