Explore our fantastic programme and register your place today!

NZPI 2023 Conference is set to be the best to date, delivering a compelling and vastly relevant programme that is globally inspired and locally focused.

To ensure our conference is accessible to all those associated with the NZ Planning profession, and planning at large, this year we are hosting a hybrid conference, meaning if you are unable to make it to conference in-person, you can attend from literally anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

NOTE - The conference programme is currently being reviewed and updated, this information is subject to change



Download Full Programme

Programme Summary

Wednesday 19th April


  • Pōwhiri
    8:00am

Pre-conference Events:
  • Field Trips
    8:30am-4:00pm (offsite)
  • Board Meeting
    10:00am-12:30pm
  • Emerging Planners Congress
    10:00am-5:00pm
  • Hui Papa Pounamu
    10:00am-5:00pm
  • Elected Representatives Workshop
    9:00am-5:00pm
  • Welcome/Awards Function
    6:00pm-8:00pm
    Sponsored by Planz

Thursday 20th April


Morning Tea

Lunch

Afternoon Tea

  • Rodney Davies Research Symposium
    2:30pm-5:00pm
  • Breakout Session Streams
    2:55pm-5:00pm
  • Field Trips
    2:55pm-5:00pm
  • NZPI Board Update and Q&A
    5:10pm-6:00pm
  • Networking Drinks
    6:00pm-7:00pm
    Sponsored by Campbell Brown
  • Social Functions
    7:00pm-10:00pm (offsite)

Friday 21st April


Morning Tea

Lunch

Afternoon Tea

  • Breakout Session Streams
    2:50pm-4:05pm
  • Field Trips
    2:50pm-4:05pm
  • Gala Pre-Dinner Drinks
    6:00pm-7:00pm
  • Gala Dinner, Mauri Transfer & Nancy Northcroft Award Presentation
    7:00pm-12:00am

Additional Events

Additional events include our pre-conference preeminent annual events: Hui Papa Pounamu, the Elected Representatives Workshop and the Emerging Planners Congress. A high school programme sponsored by WSP is also offered to potential future planners.

These are half to full day events hosted by or for a special interest group that occur either prior to the commencement or in the main conference. Each event will contain a range of speakers and presentations specific to the special interest group.

REGISTER VIA MAIN CONFERENCE FORM

Emerging Planners Congress

The Emerging Planners Congress is the annual professional development event organised by and for Emerging Planners of New Zealand.

The Congress is a single day event coinciding with the NZPI annual conference which aims to encourage critical thinking and discussion among planners up to 5 years’ experience while facilitating and encouraging professional, social and career development opportunities. The next Congress is in Christchurch with the theme being ‘Providing the tools to enable Emerging Planners to Rise to the Challenges’.

Full details here

REGISTER VIA MAIN CONFERENCE FORM

Elected Representatives Workshop

The Elected Representatives Workshop provides a dedicated forum for elected members to discuss the most topical issues facing the resource management profession and exploring how these issues connect to the local government space.

FULL DETAILS HERE


REGISTER VIA MAIN CONFERENCE FORM

Rodney Davies Research Symposium

This Symposium is named after Rod Davies a town planner and architect whose long and distinguished contribution to the planning profession and the NZPI was recognised in the award of Life Fellow in 2009.

The Rodney Davies Research symposium offers a unique opportunity for the sharing and discussion of academic research and ideas. The half day symposium historically focuses on a specific topic within the conference theme. The 2023 ‘Hīkina te Mānuka – Rise Up to the Challenges’ theme presents a great opportunity for academics to showcase and discuss research of relevance.

FULL DETAILS HERE

Invite Only - 31st March 2023

High School Seminar

Prior to the NZPI Annual Conference to be held in Ōtautahi students will have an exciting day of activities starting at the new Te Pae Convention Centre in Christchurch and out and about on field trips. Students will have speakers on intensification of housing, the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre and stormwater and green infrastructure before they head out into the field to collect their data.

Full details here

REGISTER VIA MAIN CONFERENCE FORM

Hui Papa Pounamu

Hui Papa Pounamu the signature event for Papa Pounamu, the Māori special interest group within Te Kokiringa Taumata New Zealand Planning Institute. It is a full-day event within the NZPI annual conference focusing on Māori and Pacific communities and practitioners. It celebrates successful kaupapa indigenous-centered approaches to common planning issues, and highlights matters of particular interest to whānau, hapū, and iwi Māori, as well as our relations from across the Pacific.


Full details here

Plenary & Breakout Sessions

Our 2023 plenary sessions are outlined here, you’ll see there is a mix of local speakers presenting in person and international speakers presenting via live streaming technology.

The breakout sessions are grouped by the conference sub themes and there are between 4 and 5 parallel streams running at once. With such a full programme of exciting speakers, it’s a good idea to plan your day ahead of time.

As part of your registration, all sessions will be made available to you On Demand post-conference, so you won't miss out on any content no matter which streams you choose to attend in-person.

Eke Panuku
Rise To The Occasion

Stream Sponsored by

Tuakiritanga
Raise The Flag

Stream Sponsored by:

Kia Manawaroa
Raise the Stakes

Stream Sponsored by:


Eke Panuku
Rise To The Occasion

Stream Sponsored by:

Auditiorium at Te Pae
Dobson 1&2
Dobson 3&4
Conway 1,2&3



Alternatively, you could register for a half-day bike or walking tour:

  • Central City Culture & Identity - Half Day Walking Tour
  • Central City Culture & Heritage - Half Day Walking Tour
  • City to Sea - Half Day Bike Tour

Click here for field trip information

Eke Panuku
Rise To The Occasion

Stream Sponsored by:

Tuakiritanga
Raise The Flag

Kia Manawaroa
Raise the Stakes


Eke Panuku
Rise To The Occasion

Stream Sponsored by:

Kia Manawaroa
Raise the Stakes

Stream Sponsored by:

Auditiorium at Te Pae
Dobson 1&2
Dobson 3&4
Conway 1,2&3
Conway 4&5


Alternatively, you could register for a half-day walking tour:

  • Central City Culture & Identity - Half Day Walking Tour
  • Central City Culture & Heritage - Half Day Walking Tour

Click here for field trip information

Pōwhiri

The NZPI Annual Conference 2023 will begin with a welcome from Ngāi Tūāhuriri, the mana whenua within Central Christchurch. Ngāi Tūāhuriri are one of the five primary hapū that make up Ngāi Tahu whānui – the iwi that holds mana whenua status throughout the majority of Te Waipounamu. They will be welcoming all delegates onto Rehua Marae at 8am on the Wednesday morning. Unless you are leaving on one of the field trips departing before 9am, it is strongly recommended that you attend this pōwhiri so as to respect this integral custom of being welcomed into the region and to Conference itself.

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Welcome & Awards Function

The Welcome & Awards Function will take place on Wednesday evening in the Rivers Room at Te Pae Convention Centre, where you can enjoy complimentary drinks and canapés, and take the opportunity to network, socialise and celebrate with your peers.

All NZPI annual awards and scholarships will be presented at this year's Welcome Function, except the Nancy Northcroft Award (NZPI's Supreme Practice Award) which will be presented at the Gala Dinner on Friday..

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Field Trips & Social Functions

Here you will find all the details on the 2023 social events, field trips and walking tours.

Join in on these special events to make the most of your experience in this stunning part of the country! Explore the diversity of the Canterbury region! We have organised some amazing field trips taking place on the 19th April, walking tours on the 20th and 21st of April and the social events on the 20th of April.

Minimum and maximum numbers apply, so get in quick to avoid missing out. Please note that if minimum numbers are not reached, some functions may be cancelled.

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Gala Dinner

This black tie event is a wonderful way to top off a fantastic conference and celebrate the amazing efforts all the award winners have made in the industry as well as honoring the winner of the Nancy Northcroft (Supreme Practice) Award. A final conference hurrah with your colleagues, enjoy a three-course meal, entertainment and dancing in to the evening with Christchurch Band 'Studio 54.

The evening will feature the presentation of the Nancy Northcroft (Supreme Practice) Award, entertainment from Christchurch Band 'Studio 54' and Christchurch aerial artist, Danny Syme.

This will be a night to remember!

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Once registered you'll have access to the full dynamic programme via the conference app - your free on the go portal for information on the NZPI Conference.

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