If you need a planning job done and aren’t sure where to start, your local council is the first stop for advice. Check out your council’s webpage or helpdesk for independent advice on whether the work you are proposing needs a consent.
A planner may be needed if you want to:
It is important to note that whether the property is held privately
or publicly, a consent could still be required. A planner can let you
know what approvals you need and the options you have.
There are many different kinds of planners, some planners are employed directly by consultancies and work on large projects. If your work is of a smaller scale and less complexity specialisation is less important, for larger works, finding a planner who specialises in that area is beneficial.
Some common planning specialisations are below:
We recommend that you prepare a brief for the planning work you want done. The brief is a document that outlines the scope of work and will help the planner provide an accurate estimate of the time and cost.
Your brief should include:
If you're unsure of what to include a planner can help you prepare your brief.
Planning Offer of Service
The planner will provide you with an offer of services, make sure to clarify the costs included and what is excluded, some good questions to ask are:
It is important to note that council costs for your application are excluded from the offer, and fees can be substantial, depending on the complexity of your project.
Once you're both happy with the brief, you should formalise this agreement in a legally binding contract.
NZPI members are held to high standards of professionalism and are required to adhere to the NZPI Code of Ethics/Conduct. Browse the NZPI consultants directory to find planning professionals in your area or to look for a planning consultancy.