All our members have agreed to abide by the NZPI Code of Ethics and uphold a high standard of professionalism, providing advice that will withstand scrutiny.

Members are bound by ethical obligations to the profession, colleagues, clients, and the public.

A planner shall:

  • Maintain an appropriate professional awareness of contemporary planning philosophy, practice and techniques.
  • Maintain an appropriate professional awareness of issues related to the Treaty of Waitangi and to the needs and interests of Tangata Whenua.
  • Subject to respecting a client's or employer's right of confidentiality, endeavour to ensure that full, clear and accurate information is available, and that there are meaningful opportunities for public input and participation.
  • Ensure that special attention is paid to the inter-relatedness of decisions and the environmental, social and economic consequences of planning actions.
  • Recognise the need to maintain and promote high environmental standards and outcomes.

    A planner shall:

    • Uphold the dignity of the profession and the reputation of the Institute.
    • Act in a friendly, fair and tolerant manner to other professional planners. A planner shall do nothing calculated to injure unjustly or unfairly the reputation of another professional planner.
    • Co-operate in advancing the art and science of planning by exchanging information and experience.
    • Endeavour to contribute to the professional development of planning students and fellow planners.
    • Not advertise for work in a misleading manner, or in a manner injurious to the dignity of the profession, or other planners.

      A planner shall:

      • Carry out all professional work with integrity, and in a spirit of fairness, fidelity and objectivity
      • Ensure that any private dealings or ownership or any position on any local authority, board of directors or the like, do not create any conflict of interest with any client or employer.
      • Not make any misleading claims, or attempt to influence any decisions by improper means.
      • Not accept any financial inducement offered in order to influence or affect their advice.

      A planner shall:

      • Strive to ascertain the appropriate factual situation, and maintain unbiased and object judgement, and shall not give professional advice or evidence which is other than their true professional opinion.
      • Strive to attain a high standard of professional competence.
      • Shall continue to seek and receive professional education throughout a planning career, and to keep abreast of the development of planning practice and techniques

      NZPI takes violation of ethics seriously. If you believe that any of the above ethics have been contravened please submit your complaint to NZPI for review.

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