15 Mar 2019
ROYAL FOREST AND BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED v NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL [2019] NZHC 449
- Citation
- [2019] NZAR 587
- Court
- High Court
The Court held that Forest & Bird displaced the presumption against costs because it was reasonable to commence the judicial review, the respondents' subsequent actions (Council's admission of error and decision to abide; Resin & Wax's surrender of consents) rendered continuation unnecessary and vindicated the applicant, and therefore the First Respondent must contribute to the applicant's costs: 90 hours total awarded, calculated at $100 per hour for hours up to notification of surrender and $50 per hour for the remaining hours, and all claimed disbursements approved.