Skip to content

Dr. Joan Forret

Partner

Resource Management, Alcohol Licensing and Public Works Act

Joan has specialised in environmental and resource management law for over 20 years, with a particular focus on quarries, farming practices, and land development. She regularly appears before the Environment Court and at Local Authority hearings for resource consents and plan changes. She has also chaired a decision making panel for a large-scale development under the Fast Track consenting process.

As well as providing advice to environmental matters, Joan provides expert advice on matters relating to prosecution and enforcement, public works and local government issues.

Joan is a member of the University of Waikato Council, a member of the Central Regional Committee of the Property Council, and a member of the Property Council’s Resource Management Reform Taskforce. She is an immediate past Chair of the Waikato branch of the Resource Management Law Association.

Lecturing for five years in Environmental and Public Law at Waikato University, she holds a PhD and LLB in law from Waikato University, and arts (history) and science (chemistry) degrees from Otago University.

Joan’s PhD research has given her insight into the role and significance of expert witnesses within environmental law – her doctoral thesis investigated the relationship of science and law in environmental decision-making.

Joan has been a partner since 2006 and leads the resource management team at Harkness Henry.

Dr. Joan Forret - Harkness Henry Partner
Back To Top