NZPI :: The New Zealand Planning Institute High School Hui 2023

The seminar was hosted to raise awareness and interest in the planning profession as a career option for geography high school students. Planning is a career that can help shape the future of New Zealand. It is a profession dedicated to building communities. Planners work to protect the environment, guide growth, enhance economic development and improve people's quality of life.

The first session of the day was made up of a panel of experts that included Dr Dyanna Jolly, Senior Lecturer, Department of Environmental Management, Lincoln University. Early career planners - Mayce Bates, Planner WSP and Vanessa Mannix, Graduate Planner, WSP. Jonathan Clease, Partner, Planz Consultants. They talked about how they became planners, what a planner’s role is and why planning is a great profession to join. Students asked lots of questions about their jobs and experiences.

The second session was an introduction to planning issues with a range of guest speakers. These talks covered the context for each project, the issues, challenges and benefits of each project and the decision-making process that took place and public reaction:

Topic 1. Intensification of housing – Ike Kleynbos, CCC Principal Advisor, Planning 

Topic 2. Arts Centre Restoration, Graham Taylor, Director, Resource Management Group (RMG); Clare Dale, Senior Planner (Novo Group) 

Topic 3. Stormwater and green infrastructure – Angela Pratt, Water Engineer, Jacobs.

After lunch students opted in to a field trip of their choice:

Some students toured the Art Centre and learned about the rebuild process and heritage values. Another group did a walking tour that checked out rain gardens, Ōtakaro/Avon River modification and storm water design. The last group investigated the intensification of housing and urban residential design in the inner city.