Urban / Regional Planner | Kaiwhakamahere Tāone / Rohe

CountiesmanukauAuckland, Auckland, New Zealand

8 hours ago

Job description

Urban / regional planners develop and administer plans for physical, environmental, social and economic development of urban and rural areas.

Pay

Planners usually earn

Source : Hays, 2023

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as an urban / regional planner are good due to high demand for their services.

Pay for urban / regional planners varies depending on their skills and experience.

Planners usually earn between $65,000 and $130,000 a year.
Source : Hays, 'Salary Guide FY 23 / 24', 2023.

Responsibilities

Urban / regional planners may do some or all of the following :

plan and design buildings, streets, subdivisions, parks, reserves or sports facilities

prepare plans up to 20 years ahead

examine how areas are developing and the effect of proposed developments

collect and analyse economic, social and environmental data

manage projects, including communications strategies

write and present reports on behalf of councils, companies, applicants and submitters at resource consent, environmental, and other hearings.

Skills and knowledge

Urban / regional planners need to have knowledge of :

local and national government processes

environmental and economic issues

different building methods

planning legislation such as the Resource Management Act and the Local Government Act

the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol, a commitment by central and local government, property developers and investors, design professionals, educational institutes and other groups to undertake specific urban design initiatives.

Working conditions

Urban / regional planners :

usually work regular business hours, but may need to work weekends or evenings

work in offices, but often visit construction sites and proposed development sites

may travel nationally and overseas to attend public meetings, conferences and seminars.

To become an urban / regional planner you usually need to have a degree listed on the New Zealand Planning Institute's accredited course list, such as a Master of Planning.

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include geography, maths, social studies, te reo Māori and economics.

Personal requirements

Urban / regional planners need to be :

able to relate to a wide range of people

able to handle conflict

open-minded

Being able to understand and communicate different viewpoints effectively (even if they are not your own) will help in any planning process – whether it be a hearing, through community consultation or even just a meeting.

Useful experience

Useful experience for urban / regional planners includes :

work as a planning assistant for councils or consultant firms

work on a building site

draughting or research work

volunteer work for community or environmental groups, or organisations such as the Department of Conservation.

Registration

Professional registration with the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) is recommended but not compulsory.

Strong demand for urban / regional planners

Chances of getting work as an urban / regional planner are good due to strong demand for workers. One reason for this is the high level of population growth in New Zealand's main centres. Opportunities for employment are greater in Auckland than in the rest of New Zealand.

According to a New Zealand Planning Institute Survey, 52% of employers who responded reported difficulties in filling vacancies for urban / regional planners.

According to the Census, 3,012 urban / regional planners worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Useful to build planning experience while studying

Building up experience while you study can increase your chances of getting planning work once you graduate. Doing work experience or internships also helps you meet people in the planning industry.

Types of employers varied

Urban / regional planners may work for :

local authorities such as city and district councils

private consulting firms

universities.

Sources

Anorpong, D, Sedgley, S, 'National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity - A Year In', Planning Quarterly, 207, December 2017, (

Beattie, L, deputy head of school of architecture and planning, University of Auckland, careers.govt.nz interview, July 2018.

Cayford, J, senior policy adviser, New Zealand Planning Institute, careers.govt.nz interview, June 2018.

New Zealand Planning Institute, 'The New Zealand Planning Institute Salary Survey 2017', January 2018, (

Pascall, K, principal adviser - planning, Wellington City Council, careers.govt.nz interview, July 2018.

Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.

Trevelyan, A, principal planner, Auckland Council, careers.govt.nz interview, July 2018.

Urban / regional planners can progress by moving into senior or managerial positions.

They may also specialise in an area such as :

Catchment Management Planner – advises on the use and development of natural resources such as fishing quotas, water management, and other environmental activities.

Policy Analyst (Planner) – gathers and analyses information to assist in the planning, development and interpretation of rules and regulations.

Recreation Planner – plans and designs recreational facilities such as parks, reserves, swimming facilities and cemeteries.

Resource Consent Planner – processes applications for resource consents and takes part in resource consent hearings.

Urban Designer – advises councils, developers and government on land zoning, and how to best use urban spaces.

Architects, surveyors, environmental engineers, landscape architects and valuers also work closely with planners in related roles.

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