RMLA Conference 2026: resource-management law heads to the Bay of Islands

RMLA gathers the resource-management sector in the Bay of Islands

The Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand holds its 2026 annual conference on 10-11 September 2026 at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, with a welcome reception the evening of Wednesday 9 September. Themed *True North | Te pae Tawhiti, whāia kia tata*, the programme is framed around finding direction as new legislation reshapes New Zealand's planning, policy and consenting landscape.

Who runs it

The conference is the flagship annual event of the Resource Management Law Association of New Zealand (RMLA), the national body for practitioners working across resource management and environmental law, policy and practice. According to the association's own conference site, the event is delivered by an RMLA Conference committee.

Who it is for and what is on

RMLA positions the conference for practitioners, decision-makers and sector leaders, promoting 400-plus attendees and 35-plus speakers across the two days. The published programme includes a keynote from futurist Dr Ben Hamer, a Minister's address from Hon Chris Bishop as Minister responsible for RMA Reform, a political panel, and 'Environment Court: Observations from the bench' with Judge Lauren J. Semple. Julian Wilcox serves as conference MC, and content runs through panels and concurrent workshops covering case-law updates, the transition to the new planning system, Te Tai Tokerau water storage, and marine biosecurity. Friday closes with a slate of Northland fieldshops and the conference dinner and Annual RMLA Awards.

Venue and getting there

Sessions are delivered across two rooms within the Waitangi Treaty Grounds: the Waitaha Events Centre at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort hosts the live presentations, while the adjacent Pavilion offers a livestream in a more relaxed setting, with delegates choosing their venue at registration. The Copthorne sits on 1 Tau Henare Drive, Paihia, set in 60 acres of subtropical gardens within the Waitangi National Trust Reserve and minutes from Paihia township. In place of standard breaks, the organisers schedule two extended one-hour networking sessions each day to bring both venues together. The Bay of Islands is served by Kerikeri (Bay of Islands) Airport, roughly a 30-minute drive from Paihia and Waitangi.

Why it matters in NZ MICE

With RMA reform actively reshaping New Zealand's resource-management framework, the RMLA conference is a fixture on the association calendar and a significant driver of business-events activity for Northland, drawing a national professional audience to Waitangi at scale.