New Zealand Planning Consultants — Established 1995
Experienced resource management and planning expertise, nationwide.
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Positive Planning provides experienced resource management and planning advice for projects across New Zealand. Based in Auckland and working nationwide, we assist with resource consents, subdivisions, development projects, district plan matters, council hearings, and expert evidence. With over 30 years of experience, we understand how councils work, how plans are applied, and how to guide projects through complex planning processes.
Clear advice. Practical strategy. Nationwide expertise.
Recent projects
Areas of experience
ProjectDescription
Commerce Street, Auckland CBD
High-rise apartment tower involving heritage development rights transfer. Complex urban design, infrastructure, and overshadowing resolved through notified consent.
Buscomb Avenue, Henderson
14-level apartment tower with automated car parking stacker. Multiple concurrent consents including resource consent, unit title subdivision, and building consent coordination.
Great North Road, Grey Lynn
Two six-level apartment buildings consented concurrently under AUP residential zone standards addressing outlook, sunlight access, and streetscape effects.
Sandringham Road, Auckland
Residential apartment development with assessment of character, amenity, and transport effects in an established suburban context.
Farnham Street, Parnell
14-unit apartment building. Construction noise, groundwater, and easement resolution. Non-notified outcome achieved through early council engagement.
Shelly Beach Road, Herne Bay
Five-level apartments in a coastal suburb. NES contaminated sites consent alongside viewshaft, character, and amenity assessment.
Auckland Road, Auckland
Residential apartment development requiring assessment of character and amenity effects under Auckland Unitary Plan provisions.
Newell Road, Waikato
Residential development under the Waikato District Plan, demonstrating experience with provincial council planning processes outside Auckland.
Whangapoua Road, Thames-Coromandel
Residential development assessed under Thames-Coromandel District Plan with coastal and residential planning provisions engagement.
Seccombes Road, Epsom
Six three-level townhouses in a special character area. Detailed character assessment and school proximity issues managed to achieve non-notified outcome.
ProjectDescription
Parnell Road, Parnell
Commercial development with assessment of character, traffic, and amenity effects in a mixed-use environment.
Greys Avenue, Auckland CBD
Multiple consents for change of use across office, hotel, and residential tenancies under City Centre Zone parking, access, and amenity provisions.
Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Additions and alterations to a mixed-use CBD tower including new retail, office, and residential floors. Urban Design Panel engagement required.
Road — Signage & Billboards, Auckland
Resource consent for large-format signage and billboard structures. Assessment of visual amenity, sign bylaw provisions, and effects on the surrounding environment.
Carlyle Street, Napier
New restaurant consent under Hastings District Plan. Experience engaging with regional and local authority planners.
Richmond Road, Grey Lynn
Notified consent for café, home office, and minor dwelling in a special character area. Represented at public hearing — successful outcome.
Barfoot & Thompson — NZ-wide Offices
Rebranding and signage upgrades for all offices nationwide across multiple district plans and council areas simultaneously.
ProjectDescription
Kitson Place, Mt Wellington
Industrial units for private use and on-sale with concurrent unit title subdivision. Assessment of site coverage, access, and Light Industry Zone effects.
Timber Place, Riverhead
New industrial buildings and internal roading for a greenfield industrial activity addressing servicing, stormwater, and traffic generation.
Pavilion Drive, Māngere
Automated car stacker systems near Auckland Airport. Structural effects, visual amenity, noise, and 24-hour operational requirements assessed.
Kerrs Road, Wiri
Private tertiary education facility in a Heavy Industry Zone. Non-standard activity with detailed compatibility assessment under AUP.
Pukekiwiriki Place, East Tāmaki
Education facility in a Light Industry Zone including FTE assessment, traffic coordination, and Section 92 information request response.
ProjectDescription
Edge Road, Whananaki
Coastal de-amalgamation and subdivision with building platforms, ecological restoration planting, public coastal walkway, and Te Araroa Trail linkage. Far North District Plan with iwi engagement.
Almorah Road, Epsom
10-lot subdivision with ecological assessment. Lava cave formations and indigenous vegetation covenanted. Character housing design guidelines embedded in conditions.
Airedale Street, Auckland CBD
Unit title subdivision of a multi-level building incorporating student accommodation and heritage building conversion.
Turakina Street, Henderson
Unit title subdivision coordinated alongside resource consent for a residential apartment development in Henderson town centre.
ProjectDescription
Gillies Avenue, Epsom
Heritage building requiring assessment under AUP heritage provisions and engagement with Auckland Council heritage planners.
Great South Road, Ōtāhuhu
Demolition and rebuild of a commercial character building. Detailed character assessment to satisfy Special Character Area provisions.
Onehunga Mall, Onehunga
Additions and alterations to a character building, respecting established character values of the building and surrounding streetscape.
Awatea Road, Parnell
Additions to a character dwelling and construction of a new building — form, scale, and materials central to assessment.
Airedale Street, Auckland CBD
Conversion of a scheduled heritage building for student accommodation. Specialist heritage impact assessment by heritage architect.
Richmond Road, Grey Lynn
Notified consent in a special character area. Applicant represented at hearing before Independent Commissioner — successful outcome.
ProjectDescription
East Tamaki Road, East Tāmaki
Education facility in an Auckland Light Industry Zone with AUP assessment of zone compatibility, parking, and student amenity.
Business Parade, East Tāmaki
Education facility in an Auckland industrial zone requiring assessment of effects under AUP industrial zone provisions.
Glenelg Street, Dunedin
Private tertiary education facility in an industrial zone under the Otago District Plan. Non-standard activity with compatibility and amenity assessment.
Shands Road, Christchurch
Education facility under the Christchurch City Plan. Experience with post-earthquake planning frameworks and Christchurch City Council engagement.
Carruth Road, Auckland
Community facility requiring assessment of community effects, parking, and zone compatibility under AUP provisions.
Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
Retirement village with staged additions, alterations, and consent variations across multiple project phases.
Teed Street, Newmarket
Healthcare and medical facility. Hours of operation, parking, patient access, and Business – Mixed Use Zone compatibility assessed.
ProjectDescription
Council Hearing Representation
We represent applicants and affected parties at resource consent hearings before Independent Hearing Commissioners and council hearing panels. This includes preparing expert planning evidence, written submissions, and presenting at hearings across a range of development types and district plan contexts throughout New Zealand.
Affected Party Submissions
We act for landowners and neighbours affected by resource consent applications — reviewing proposals, identifying adverse effects, preparing planning submissions, and presenting evidence at hearings to achieve meaningful outcomes for our clients.
Environment Court
We prepare and present expert planning evidence in the Environment Court across a range of matters including resource consent appeals, plan change proceedings, and enforcement. Our evidence covers zone assessment, policy analysis, case law, and effects evaluation — providing clear, balanced, and well-reasoned planning input.
Auckland Unitary Plan — AUP Hearings
We prepared and presented submissions and expert planning evidence through multiple rounds of Auckland Unitary Plan hearings, covering residential, business, coastal, and infrastructure chapters — acting for clients across a range of landholdings and interests throughout Auckland.
District Plan Submissions — New Zealand-wide
We prepare and present submissions and planning evidence for clients through plan change and plan review processes across New Zealand — from initial submissions through to hearing representation before commissioners and, where required, the Environment Court.
ProjectDescription
Development Potential Assessments
We prepare detailed planning assessments of land development potential for Valuation Tribunal proceedings — analysing applicable zoning, development standards, overlays, consent history, and the range of activities and intensities achievable under the relevant district plan. Our evidence gives the Tribunal a clear and well-reasoned picture of what a willing purchaser would recognise as the planning value of the land.
Compulsory Acquisition & Public Works
We provide expert planning evidence in Tribunal proceedings involving land acquired under the Public Works Act — addressing the planning context, development potential, and any constraints affecting the land's value at the date of acquisition. We have experience across residential, commercial, and industrial zoned land acquired for transport, infrastructure, and other public purposes.
Leasehold & Compensation Matters
We assess development potential and planning attributes of leasehold and freehold land for compensation and rental review purposes — drawing on our knowledge of the AUP, provincial district plans, and the planning history of comparable properties to provide robust and well-evidenced expert opinion.
Auckland & Nationwide
Our Valuation Tribunal work spans Auckland and regional centres throughout New Zealand. We understand how different councils and district plans affect development potential, and can provide credible, well-reasoned planning evidence in Tribunal proceedings regardless of where the land is located.
Who we help
We work with a wide range of clients across New Zealand — from individual homeowners to major developers, design teams, and government organisations.
Developers & Landowners
From initial feasibility and site scoping through to a granted consent — managing risk, engaging with council, and keeping projects on track.
Architects & Design Teams
We align planning strategy with design intent from the outset — identifying consent pathways and managing constraints early.
Commercial Property Owners
Practical land use and consent advice — change of use, signage, alterations, or understanding what a site can accommodate under the district plan.
Surveyors & Engineers
Coordinated planning input for subdivision, infrastructure, and engineering projects — keeping planning and technical workstreams aligned throughout.
Homeowners
Clear, practical guidance for residential projects — additions, alterations, new dwellings, or boundary adjustments — helping you navigate the process with confidence.
Councils & Organisations
Expert planning evidence, policy advice, and representation — plan change submissions, Environment Court evidence, and Valuation Tribunal appearances.
Start a conversation
Address
Level 17, The Shortland Centre
55 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD 1010
55 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD 1010
Phone
09 302 0461
Email
office@positiveplanning.co.nz