The council granted a consent next door, can I challenge it?

The options depend on how the consent was processed. Under the Resource Management Act 1991, councils decide whether to notify a resource consent application, and if it is publicly or limited notified, affected people may make submissions and later appeal to the Environment Court. If the application was non-notified because the council considered that the effects on you were minor or that you gave written approval, you generally cannot appeal the merits, but you can seek judicial review in the High Court if the council made an error of law or a flawed decision on notification. Time limits are short, so contact a lawyer immediately. You can also check that the developer complies with the consent conditions and report breaches to the council.