Government processes · Overseas investment · Land & infrastructure · Building systems · Immigration processes · Resource management
Chris Penk is a Strategic & Regulatory Consultant with Meridian Partners.
Chris brings an unusual combination of experience across government, regulation, property and public administration. His work with Meridian focuses on helping clients understand and navigate complex government and regulatory processes, particularly where commercial, property or investment objectives intersect with public-sector decision-making.
From 2023 to 2026, Chris served as Minister for Land Information and Minister for Building and Construction, and as an Associate Minister of Immigration. He was a Member of Parliament from 2017 to 2026.
Before entering Parliament, Chris practised as a solicitor, including in property matters involving subdivisions and other property transactions.
Areas in which Chris can assist
Overseas investment
Chris assists clients and Meridian's lawyers with the practical and strategic dimensions of Overseas Investment Act processes and Overseas Investment Office applications, drawing on his previous responsibility for the overseas investment regime as Minister for Land Information.
Land, titles and property systems
Chris brings experience of New Zealand's land and title systems from both private practice and his former ministerial responsibility for Land Information New Zealand and the Landonline system.
Building and consenting systems
Chris provides strategic insight into New Zealand's building regulatory and consenting environment. As Minister for Building and Construction, he was involved in reforms concerning the Building Consent Authority system, including its structure and liability settings.
Public Works Act and infrastructure
Chris assists with the strategic and governmental-process aspects of matters involving land acquisition and infrastructure. His experience includes former ministerial responsibility for the Public Works Act and reforms relating to critical infrastructure and the wider statutory framework.
Immigration processes
Chris provides strategic assistance in matters involving the operation of New Zealand's immigration system and government decision-making processes, drawing on his experience as Associate Minister of Immigration.
Resource management and regulatory processes
Chris brings experience of resource management and development processes, including private plan changes, Special Housing Areas and fast-track approval processes.
Working with Chris
Chris works alongside Meridian's practising lawyers where a matter requires both legal advice and broader strategic or regulatory insight.
His role is focused on strategy, government and regulatory processes, and practical problem-solving.
Chris does not hold a current New Zealand practising certificate and does not provide legal services as a lawyer. Where legal advice or representation is required, that work is provided by an appropriate practising lawyer at Meridian Partners.