NZPI Conference 2026 - Reflections
- David Clouston
- May 9
- 3 min read
A couple of months ago, I attended the NZPI Conference in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Below is a summary of my experience.
The New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) conference was held in Poneke Wellington on 25th to 27th March. It was a great time connecting with friends and meeting new people in Aotearoa’s Capital. Insightful presentations on topics such as natural hazards, the resource management reform, creating prosperous communities, medium density housing and guidance from an Environment Court Judge, drew thoughtful debate amongst us.
Key sessions and highlights:
Political Debate - Replacement of the RMA
Five Members of Parliament – Hon Chris Bishop, Hon Rachel Brooking, MP Simon Court, MP Andy Foster and MP Lan Pham participated in a panel discussion, providing an up-front view on the Government’s proposed Planning and Natural Environment Bills.
Key themes included:
A desire for a unified, enduring planning system, including plan standardisation and reduced consenting costs.
The need for strong national direction and central government support.
Long-term infrastructure planning guided by the National Infrastructure Plan.
A shift toward a digital-first planning system.
Ongoing debate around regulatory relief, fast-track legislation, and recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Broad support for spatial planning, alongside concerns about reform timing and integration between the two proposed Acts.
Building Better Kāinga
Construkt Architects, represented by Kate Watson and Karl Barker, shared insights from medium-density Build-To-Rent developments Kaweka (Ōwairaka) and Moroki (Glen Innes).
The presentation highlighted how complex site constraints, such as steep terrain, flood risk, and significant tree retention, can be addressed through thoughtful design. These projects demonstrated how density can complement, rather than displace, established suburban neighbourhoods.
Artificial Intelligence - Policy24
Policy24 is an AI-enabled ePlanning and policy management platform used in Australia and New Zealand. Councils including Waikato District Council and Christchurch City Council are already using it, while all 68 councils in South Australia have adopted it.
The platform allows residents and applicants to search by property address and instantly access zoning, overlays, activity status, and relevant policies. This platform uses GPT-5.2 providing accurate, 24/7 pre-application advice and significantly reduces enquiries to councils. Definitely an evolving space to watch!
Environment Court Insights - Judge Jeff Smith
Judge Jeff Smith shared practical advice for planners presenting evidence in court. He emphasised four key principles:
Avoid being an advocate.
Maintain your objectivity.
Be independent.
Succinctness.
Field Trip - Eastern Porirua
A field trip to Porirua gave an insightful look into the area’s history and planning. The day began with a guided walk overlooking the town led by local iwi Ngāti Toa. This was followed by district and regional council planners explaining new zoning, infrastructure and future planting plans for the area.
The group also visited social housing developments in eastern Porirua, with briefings provided from Kāinga Ora, highlighting current approaches to housing delivery projects and community development.
Charles Marohn – Strong Towns
Charles Marohn, an American planner and engineer, presented his Strong Towns approach to creating more resilient and prosperous communities. His formula for positive change includes:
Small incremental changes: Start with small, low-risk actions rather than complex projects (don’t need to solve the whole problem).
Observe and learn: See how people respond. What works? What doesn’t?
Adapt and iterate: Respond to real world feedback instead of sticking rigidly to a plan.
Build from success: Scale up only what proves to be effective.
Prioritise financial stability: Ensure each step creates more value than it costs over time.
My Reflections
The panel discussion sure was captivating with politicians expressing their often strong views on topics. It will be interesting to see how the proposed Planning and Natural Environment Bills evolve this year with the election in November. New Zealand is faced with continued natural hazards which I think the replacement RMA will need to seriously address.
A highlight was listening to representatives from Ngati Toa explain their arrival to Porirua prior to Pakeha, followed by the Porirua District Council Planning Manager and Greater Wellington staff explaining the town’s new zoning and proposed native planting for the area.
The Conference showed me there are many smart people around Aotearoa doing important work, many of them behind the scenes. I am interested to see how Auckland’s Plan Change 120 evolves and what parts of the city are up or down zoned. Many changes are likely ahead this year!
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