While the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances is an integral part of industry operation, all manner of issues can arise when things go wrong.  Given time is of the essence regarding incidents involving these substances, it is critical for regulators to understand their duties and responsibilities to respond. 

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Drawing together the threads of an overlapping regulatory regime, this presentation will provide practical guidance to local authorities on how they ought to respond to such incidents.

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More often than not, the use of hazardous substances or spillages will also result in land contamination, which may not be restricted to specific sites by virtue of secondary pathways or contaminant leaching.  With reference to case studies, this presentation will also discuss who is responsible for cleaning up contaminated land, with a particular focus on the new provisions of the Natural and Built Environment Act.  

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Presenter

Tim McGuigan
Senior Associate, Wynn Williams

Tim McGuigan is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team at Wynn Williams. He specialises in regulatory litigation, with a particular focus on local government law. He acts for a number of local authorities advising them on all aspects of their compliance, monitoring and enforcement strategy, as well as conducting prosecutions. Prior to joining Wynn Williams, Tim spent several years working as a Crown prosecutor. In 2023, he was named as a Rising Star by NZ Lawyer. 

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