NZPI Conference opened with a buzz tonight in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Hundreds of planners from across Aotearoa came together and celebrated the best in planning at our Planz Consultants sponsored Welcome Event and the 2024 NZPI Awards and Scholarships Ceremony.
Following an exceptional calibre of nominations from across the motu, NZPI chair Reg Proffit was honoured to present awards in eight categories, and award two scholarships to support future planners as they continue to strive for excellence. Reg also acknowledged Liane Ngamane who has been posthumously honoured by Papa Pounamu in recognition of her service.
The annual awards are an opportunity to pause and reflect on advancements in the planning profession and to showcase thought leadership that comes through collaborative projects and the sharing of ideas. We know it’s a critical time for planning and the recipients of this year’s awards leave us excited about the mahi happening across Aotearoa. The winner of our supreme award, the Nancy Northcroft Planning Practice Award), will be announced at our Gala Dinner at NZPIC24 on Friday night. Until then, we celebrate our award winners for 2024.
Dave Moule spoke on behalf of Boffa Miskell, sponsor of the Lance Leikis Emerging Planners Award’. This award, which recognises a significant contribution to the planning profession by a Graduate planner.
This year the recipient of the Lance Leikis Emerging Planner Award is Kiri Crossland. Kiri is an Intermediate Planner at Hamilton City Council and is an active NZPI member and is the Waikato NZPI Emerging Planners Representative.
NZPI Awards for Best Practice were awarded in four categories, with additional recognition of other highly commended nominations at the awards ceremony.
The Auckland Council Healthy Waters Team; Auckland Council Healthy Waters AND Beca were Highly Commended under the NZPI Best Practice for Statutory Planning for the their on the Regionwide Global Consent for the Fish Passage Remediation Programme of Works.
The NZPI Best Practice Award Climate Change was awarded to Hurunui District Council and Jacobs for the Amberley Beach Coastal Adaptation Plan. This Plan documents how the Amberley Beach community will take control of their future and how, as a community, they will adapt to the changing hazard risk over the next 100 years.
It responds to coastal erosion, coastal inundation, rising groundwater, fluvial flooding and pluvial flooding considering the impacts of climate change.
See citation here
NZPI Best Practice Award for Planning for Inclusive Communities and Health and Wellbeing was awarded to Auckland Transport & Beca for Elevating Communities: An Innovative Approach to Community Engagement for Removing Pedestrian Level Crossings and Homai Station. Traditional consultation methods were strengthened with new methods not previously used by AT, including a 3D printed model and automated voice announcements at the station. This revolutionised the consultation process.
The NZPI Best Practice Award for Digital Tools was awarded to Waipā District Council, Beca, In Place, and Maximize Consultancy for The Ahu Ake Community Spatial Plan. Ahu Ake is Waipā’s first Community Spatial Plan, developed from 2020-2024. It is the blueprint for placemaking and sets out 30-year investment priorities. It is the Council’s platform to become an anchor institution.
NZPI’s Best Practice Award for Non-Statutory Planning was awarded to GNS Science for their Landslide Planning Guidance – Reducing Landslide Risk Through Land Use Planning. These guidelines provide a blueprint for what information is needed to undertake landslide susceptibility, hazard and risk analysis, and case studies articulate good practice from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Also Highly Commended in this Best Practice Category were The Future Development Strategy Team for their work on Te Rautaki Whanaketanga Ki Tua a Wairarapa-Wellington-Horowhenua – Our Future Development Strategy.
The Rodney Davies Project Award is made annually in recognition of innovative and creative excellence in the undertaking and completion of a project involving a physical work or development. The Rodney Davies Award was presented to Planz Consultants, Christchurch City Council, Boffa Miskell for Te Ara Ihutai – Coastal Pathway (Moncks Bay)
This project involved the transformation of a pathway into a vibrant esplanade, attracting everyone from runners and cyclists to kayakers and birdwatchers. It is anticipated to draw over a million users annually, including tourists, becoming a symbol of resilience, community spirit, and ecological awareness. Linking Christchurch’s south-eastern suburbs, it underscores the pathway's vital role in enhancing community connectivity and environmental appreciation.
Also highly commended by the judges of this project award were NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, WSP, Aukaha, HEB Construction for the New Beaumont Bridge project.
The NZPI / Wallace Ross Graduate Research Award recognises and celebrate members who are undertaking research that advances planning practice, process and theory. This year’s winner is Anamaria Rodriguez for her research project titled “Understanding the Factors that Influence Immigrant Women to Reverse Mode Shift After Moving to Aotearoa | New Zealand – A Focus on Latin American Women in Auckland”.
Anamaria describes herself as a Latin American woman residing in Auckland, a planning student, and urban economist, who is particularly interested in contributing to the improvement of Aotearoa's transportation through a more inclusive lens.
The Alfred O. Glasse Award is made in recognition of outstanding services to planning by non-planners. This year’s winner is Liam Foster.
Liam is holds the position of Kaiarataki Hangarau – Wai (Technical Principal – Water) at WSP, with 20+ years’ of local and international experience in water cycle and strategic water policy and planning. Liam is described as a passionate professional who is both highly skilled technically, and adept at bringing together a range of stakeholders to achieve good outcomes for the environment and communities.
As a non-planner, his achievements to planning have had, and continue to have, a strong influence on making a transformational shift in how urban areas are planned, designed and constructed.
The NZPI / Reginald Hammond Scholarship is awarded to students in their final year of study for an accredited planning degree (NZ). The winner of this year’s Scholarship is Yasmin Kidd.
Yasmin is currently in her final year of study for the Bachelor of Urban Planning at the University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau.
She is an aspiring urban planner and believes in an equitable, resilient future; striving towards climate justice and climate-resilient cities and towns through nature-based solutions, māturanga Māori, community engagement and creativity.
See citation here
Also highly commended for this scholarship is Anneka Sprangers.
Supported by WSP and NZPI, the Papa Pounamu Whakatutukitanga Scholarship is awarded annually to a student studying an NZPI accredited planning degree and recognises excellence and attainment by a student planner involved in Māori planning in an environmental framework.
This years’ recipient of the Papa Pounamu Whakatutukitanga Scholarship is Ruby Kimber. Ruby is a first year Masters of Planning student at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University. Described as having a high capacity for learning, teamwork, and Māori planning perspective. In this, Ruby demonstrates a particular interest in indigenous planning within the New Zealand context and often reflects this in various environmental planning matters”. Ruby’s win includes a highly valued ten-week summer internship at WSP.
WSP has a long history of supporting Māori planners at the outset of their careers. They are a stream sponsor of NZPIC24 and NZPI appreciate their continued support for the planning profession.
