NZPI Annual Awards celebrate the important role of the planning profession in the community and highlight the best of the best from around the country. They are presented at the NZPI Conference.

Nominations for the NZPI 2023 Annual Awards are now open.

Te Kokiringa Taumata | NZPI
Annual Awards

Best practice awards are made to an individual NZPI Member, or to any organisation, group, or body whose members include a member of the New Zealand Planning Institute. The Best Practice awards recognise outstanding creativity, innovation, and service. So, if you have a project, no matter how small or large, that is innovative and reflects best practice then please take the opportunity to celebrate and share your work and learnings by submitting a nomination to the NZPI Annual Awards.

The NZPI Annual Awards celebrate best practice in the following categories:

  • Strategic planning & guidance (inclusive of professional evidence)
  • District / Regional planning
  • Integrated planning and investigations (inclusive of AEE reports, monitoring processes and reports)
  • Consultation and participation strategies and/or processes
  • Non-statutory planning

Plans and processes eligible for this award include:

  • the development of a LTCCP, Iwi Management Plan, district or regional plans, structure plan, national policy statement or standard, guidance and practice notes
  • advice and service to the community
  • the use or development of a natural or physical resource, or
  • the protection or conservation of a natural or physical resource, or
  • a significant improvement in the amenity or quality of the community and/or the environment in any area.

The Awards Committee select the winner of the Nancy Northcroft Planning Practice Award, NZPI's supreme practice award from the winners of the best practice categories and the Project Award.

Download nomination form

The New Zealand Planning Institute Rodney Davies Project Award recognises innovation and creative excellence in the undertaking and completion of a physical work or development. The award is given out annually at the NZPI Conference to an individual NZPI member or to an organisation/group which includes an NZPI member.

The award will recognise excellence in:

  • The processes which lead to the identification of the need for or justification of the project,
  • The planning processes undertaken in formulating the project including research, consultation,
  • The evaluation of alternatives and decision making, and
  • Any physical, economic, cultural or social change which has been result of the project.

Download nomination form

The New Zealand Planning Institute John Mawson Award of Merit may be made from time to time to any organisation or person in recognition of a meritorious individual or one-off contribution to the theory or practice of planning. Nominated organisations must include at least one NZPI member, while nominated individuals must be NZPI members. The grant will be formally presented at the 2020 Annual Conference in Nelson.

Download nomination form

The New Zealand Planning Institute's Lance Leikis Emerging Planners Award’ recognises a significant contribution to the planning profession by a Graduate planner.

Graduate Planners can be nominated for the Lance Leikis Emerging Planners Award’ by any other member of the NZPI. The award is presented annually at the NZPI Conference and includes a financial contribution of $1,200.

Download nomination form

The Lance Leikis Award is proudly sponsored by:

The Alfred O. Glasse Award shall be made annually by the Institute in recognition of outstanding services to planning by non-planners.

If you would like to submit a nomination for the Alfred O. Glasse Award, please email admin@planning.org.nz for details.

The NZPI Community Awareness Award shall be made from time to time, but not more often than annually to any non-professional member of the public or community organisation actively involved in planning. This award will recognise via active engagement with the media to encourage community awareness on the value of planning.

If you would like to submit a nomination for the NZPI Community Awareness Award, please email admin@planning.org.nz for details.


Award Winning Projects

The New Zealand Planning Institute Awards celebrates the important role of the planning profession and highlights the best of the best from around the country.