Environmental Due Diligence
Unlike many other countries, New Zealand’s resource management framework operates under a ‘buyer beware’ principle, rather than ‘polluter pays’. This means that if you purchase a property or business with historical contaminated land issues, you’re potentially assuming the liability created by previous owners.
Sometimes a business may have a history of non-compliance that can lead to disruptions or significant expenses that haven’t been considered in the business plan. If you’re looking to develop the site or continue ongoing operations, it is prudent to determine if the current or proposed activities are compliant with planning requirements.
Unforeseen contamination liabilities can disrupt business plans, stretch out timelines, and significantly inflate costs - especially if remediation work is required. By undertaking Environmental Due Diligence (EDD), you gain a clear picture of site liabilities and the cost of making it right.
It’s not only smart planning; for some transactions, EDD is a condition of finance.
Working with HAIL Environmental at this stage of your project means opting for priority, confidentiality, and effective collaboration with your deal team. We provide the expertise and insight to ensure that you’re taking all contaminated land risks into account.
What Is Environmental Due Diligence?
Environmental Due Diligence (EDD) is a detailed pre-purchase inspection or research before signing a lease agreement for sites that have potentially been involved in HAIL land uses. When you're buying property or acquiring a business that needs to comply with local and regional regulations, it’s crucial that you understand the associated environmental liabilities upfront. An informed decision now can help you to avoid major costs and headaches later.
Environmental Due Diligence reports follow a similar process to our Preliminary Site Investigations, but are geared towards assessing the viability of your investment opportunity instead of securing resource consent.
It quantifies the cost of returning land to its original value, free from contamination liabilities. This knowledge enables you to renegotiate the purchase price and deal terms to reflect the actual risks present.
How We Help You To Get The Best Outcomes
EDD investigations often require a high degree of client confidentiality, fast turnarounds, and ongoing updates between your appointed legal and finance teams. We are flexible and collaborative in our approach to suit your needs, and provide expertise that you can trust.
Our team is comprised of more senior Certified Environmental Practitioners - Site Contamination (CEnvP-SC) than any other consulting firm in New Zealand, and our collective-based business model is designed to ensure that you receive a thorough, consistent, and attentive service at every stage.
Whilst each investigation is different, here’s how we typically approach your Environmental Due Diligence:
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Before visiting your site, we gather as much information as possible. This may include prearranged dataroom access where we can review historical aerials, property files, anecdotal accounts, historical investigation reports, and any other relevant documentation. If the dataroom is not available, we can source relevant information ourselves.
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We then analyse the data to create a model highlighting potential hazard zones, receptors, and contamination pathways. This guides any further investigation - ensuring that our work is focused on the right areas.
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In addition to understanding previous land use issues, we also assess how your proposed business activities align with local and regional regulations, pinpointing any potential non-compliance risks and the costs to address them.
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If required, we will visit the proposed site to take a closer look and, where necessary, initiate further testing and analysis.
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Reports will often include a key issues register that provides a high-level overview of contamination problems and the ballpark compliance, business disruption and residual liability costs associated with remediation.
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With this critical information at hand, we work collaboratively with your appointed representatives to address the issues identified and support you in renegotiating purchase agreements accordingly.
What You Get: Clarity, Confidence, and Reduced Risk
Our Environmental Due Diligence process goes beyond just reporting. We show up as a strategic partner of your deal team, turning potential challenges into actionable strategies.
Here’s are the outcomes you can expect to receive from engaging us for your EDD:
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Understand the past HAIL activities and land contamination risks associated with your potential acquisition.
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Receive rounded dollar values of potential remediation costs over a client defined minimum threshold, helping to avoid expensive surprises in the future.
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Use the identified liabilities as a tool to renegotiate the price or insert conditions into the purchase agreement for optimal protection.
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Have a clear understanding of relevant local and regional planning requirements, and ensure that the current or proposed operations meet necessary standards.
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When it's time to develop the site, you’ll have a thorough understanding of the necessary environmental remediation actions (if any), effectively reducing project risks.
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The insights from the EDD not only provide peace of mind but also strengthen your position for securing finance approvals.
Why work with HAIL Environmental?
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Seasoned Experts
Every consultant is an experienced professional. We have over 100 years of combined experience. We know what to expect and how to overcome it.
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Industry Leading Quality
We have robust internal QA/QC processes, all investigations are designed to meet MfE requirements, and are signed off by a SQEP that is a certified contaminated land specialist under the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) accreditation scheme.
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Award Winning
We’ve won a range of industry accolades for innovative sustainable remediation techniques, and we’re continually looking for better, more sustainable ways to solve client challenges.
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Ethical Kaupapa
We take our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship seriously. Click here to learn more.
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Practical Approach
We are pragmatic and solutions focused. We are here to help enable you to achieve the desired outcome for your project, instead of simply identifying issues and barriers.
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Collective Model
We operate as a collective that prioritises client results and staff wellbeing over profits.
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Remediation Expertise
We have the expertise and capability to deliver the most suitable remediation approach to address your contaminated land issues. Where possible, we avoid dig and dump.
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Nationwide Service
No matter where in the country you are, we’re here to help. You get a dedicated consultant, with support from our wider team throughout Aotearoa.
Results Driven. Client Endorsed.
“We are proud to call HAIL a partner and would have no hesitation in endorsing any future opportunities that arise for this well-structured business. Their professionalism, accuracy and experience deliver a clear, non-complicated pathway that is completely client-focused. They are a united team that owns their responsibilities and binds together to give you, the client, the best solution for the task at hand.”
Garry Aitken, Managing Director @ Canterbury Enviro Solutions Limited
Our Sustainable Remediation Framework
Each service we provide fits into one of three phases. Combined, we can solve almost any contaminated land issue on your site.
Identify
Establish an understanding of what land use activities have been carried out and if these activities may have resulted in contamination.
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Understand the potential contamination issues preventing consent from being granted.
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Quantify the site contamination risks and estimated remediation costs before purchasing a business or property.
Classify
Determine the level of risk and ascertain if it requires remediation or management to enable your project to go ahead.
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Gain an in-depth understanding of your property’s contamination issues and remediation requirements.
Rectify
Find and implement the best suited solution to the problem using the most sustainable and cost effective methods.
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Determine the best course of action to fix your contaminated land issues by comparing the options available for your site.
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Resolve your contamination issues sustainably, with the level of help that suits your needs and budget.
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Ensure that all relevant needs are addressed and people are kept in the loop with our award winning engagement services.
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Outsource your compliance monitoring responsibilities to us and free up time to focus on your core business.
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Get expert consultants at short notice to address pressing issues and help resolve your contamination emergency.
How to get started
Step 1: Get in Touch
Contact one of our consultants below and share more information about your project.
Step 2: Initial Findings
We will review your correspondence and documentation. Then, we will provide a recommended course of action, with a proposal to engage our help.
Step 3: Engage Our Services
If you wish to proceed, we will onboard you as a client and get to work on your EDD project.
