Awards

The New Zealand Planning Institute recognises excellence in planning through its awards...

This year’s Awards Committee, convened by Jane Douglas, had Dean Chrystal and Caroline Miller on the panel and I wish to record a special thanks for their personal and generous contribution of time and effort in assisting to determine award recipients. This year saw an unprecedented number of entries across all categories which is hugely promising and, in our view, indicative of the strength of planning and its essential and invaluable contribution to our environments.

The excellent range of projects, plans, strategies, teams and individuals nominated reflects the high quality and diversity of our profession. The Committee was particularly impressed with the range and depth of work being undertaken throughout the country and the leadership exhibited by many of the work examples clearly showcasing planners and the profession. It is also clear that the principles of active participation and engagement of communities by Council planners, consultants and private companies have been embodied in planning practice. Many of the award nominations showed that planners are happy to embrace new and innovative methods to test policy and develop plans and strategies. This year also saw a first for District Plans under the RMA, which required a great deal of political and professional commitment to a long-range vision. It will be interesting to watch developments in that area over the coming years. Also notable for the profession is a distinctive preference for decision-making as a result of community involvement and collaboration across all sectors without ultimate recourse to the Court. Many of the nominations we received involved complex and controversial projects which were approved without appeals indicating that planning practice and the professionals involved are receiving much greater acceptance and that the importance of these inputs and process are recognised.

On behalf of the Institute I would like to thank all those members and organisations who prepared nominations for the range of awards we considered. In our view this reflects a strong and ongoing commitment by the profession to recognising excellence in planning practice and the delivery of sustainable outcomes.

Jane Douglas
Chair of Awards Committee