A senior planning practice with over 30 years of experience, working across New Zealand.
Positive Planning has been providing expert planning advice across New Zealand since 1995. We are a small, senior practice — clients work directly with experienced planners on every project, every time.
Over 30 years, we have worked across the full breadth of the planning discipline — resource consents, subdivision, heritage and ecological planning, industrial and commercial development, coastal and rural work, plan change submissions, Environment Court proceedings, and Valuation Tribunal appearances. Our experience spans simple residential applications through to some of New Zealand's most complex and high-profile developments.
We work with all councils and apply district plans throughout the country — from the Far North District Plan and Auckland Unitary Plan to regional plans in Hawke's Bay, Waikato, Wellington, Otago, and beyond. Our nationwide reach means we understand how different councils operate and what they need to see in an application.
We have also developed a strong professional network — architects, engineers, surveyors, heritage specialists, urban designers, landscape architects, planning barristers, and property lawyers — so we can recommend and coordinate the right expertise for every project.
Gary founded Positive Planning in 1995 and has over 30 years of experience across local government planning and private practice. He has led the consent and planning process for some of New Zealand's most significant and complex developments — from large-scale inner-city towers and mixed-use precincts to coastal subdivisions, heritage buildings, and community infrastructure projects across the country.
Gary has appeared as an expert witness in the Environment Court and before Independent Hearing Commissioners throughout his career, and has extensive experience in Valuation Tribunal proceedings, providing expert planning evidence in land compensation and compulsory acquisition matters.
His background in local government policy gives him a thorough understanding of how councils make decisions — and how to structure an application or submission to achieve the best outcome efficiently. Gary's approach is direct and pragmatic: honest advice, focused engagement, and no unnecessary cost.
Matt has over 11 years of experience in resource consenting, Assessment of Environmental Effects reports, and planning advisory across a wide range of project types and locations. He works across residential, commercial, industrial, coastal, ecological, heritage, and community development — under the Auckland Unitary Plan and district plans throughout New Zealand.
Matt has managed complex multi-consent projects from initial feasibility through to decision, coordinating specialist inputs across traffic, geotechnical, acoustic, ecological, and heritage disciplines. He has strong working relationships with Auckland Council processing planners and specialist teams, and is experienced in managing notified and complex non-notified applications.
Beyond Auckland, Matt has worked on projects in Northland, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, and Otago — applying district plans in regional and provincial contexts. He also has experience in subdivision and ecology, s127 consent variations, s125 timeframe extensions, Valuation Tribunal evidence, and right of way and easement applications.
We give clients clear, honest advice from the outset — including when a proposal faces challenges. Understanding the real picture early leads to better decisions and better outcomes.
We have worked with Auckland Council and councils throughout New Zealand for over 30 years. Those relationships inform how we pitch applications, manage engagement, and navigate complexity.
Our goal is always to achieve the best outcome with the least unnecessary cost or delay — managing process tightly, coordinating specialists effectively, and keeping applications moving.
We are not limited to Auckland. Positive Planning has experience working with councils and applying district plans from Northland to Southland — bringing the same depth of knowledge and direct approach wherever your project is located.
Our nationwide reach means we understand how different councils operate, what they require, and how to navigate their processes efficiently on your behalf.