New Zealand Planning Institute

NZPI CEO Receives Surprise Award NZPI CEO David Curtis was surprised by Board Chair Andrea Harris at the NZPIC25 Gala Dinner. Andrea described awarding David Curtis the Alfred O.Glasse Award for services to planning by a non-planner as the best kept secret all week. Read about what Andrea had to say about David here bit.ly/426HLy1 #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange #NZPIC25

Awarding a Night of Excellence at NZPI Gala Our 2025 NZPI Conference has ended on a high in Waihōpai Invercargill. Tonight’s Gala Dinner brought the glitz & glamour, with huge thanks to SLR Consulting sponsors of our premier social event. Hundreds of planners joined our international guests for a night of celebration, setting a very special scene to award the Nancy Northcroft Award & to honour two more new NZPI Fellows, following those already presented our Awards night this week. Congratulations to the Team at Selwyn District Council who developed Waikirikiri ki tua Future Selwyn Congratulations to our four new NZPI Fellows. Much deserved praise & recognition goes to: Dr Lee Beattie Dean Chrystal Shane Roberts Karyn Sinclair Read more about our Gala Dinner here: bit.ly/4iFDV5W #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange #NZPIC25

Environmental Law is a Verb Judge Hassan, an Invercargill local well accustomed to weathering the change when Waihōpai's sou-westers hit, had an important lesson today about policy. It's about doing. The Judge told delegates that how we “do” the law is a catalyst for good law, before citing examples of policy done well. Our final keynote for NZPIC25 ended with a whakataukī "A standing rock by the sea that’s lashed by the tides is resilient". #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange #NZPIC25

We Need a Plan Grant Smith’s time in the energy sector dates back to ECNZ & the morning tea trolley. He knows the energy sector inside out & told delegates at #NZPIC25 this morning that it took 100 years to get the first 7,000 megs & we have 7 years to double it. He challenged the audience to "dare to dream of a more distributive system in NZ" but first we need a plan. Thanks to Beca for sponsoring Grant & allowing him to bring his critical conversations about our renewable energy potential. #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange #Beca

How Heritage Can Absorb Change Design historian & heritage specialist Adam Mornement opened his session at #NZPIC25 today with a conclusion. Saying that heritage (as currently framed) is poorly aligned with society but has huge potential to absorb change. Adam outlined the surprising opportunity heritage brings as a means toward carbon reduction. He's working to reframe the assumption that heritage is costly & complex by considering what "place" will provide for the future. #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange.

It was a pleasure to have you present at #NCPIC25 Daniel Kinnoch Lots of great lessons & takaways.

Planners Together Another successful Networking Drinks tonight at #NZPIC25. Thanks to Campbell Brown Planning for continuing to sponsor this highlight of Conference. This is our time to come together, connect, & see old friends, highlighted by Michael Campbell in his touching speech tonight. As one delgate described the evening with wisdom. "Coming together is critical. You can't hug a laptop". #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange

Capturing the Kōrero We were honoured have Dr Hēmi Whaanga end today's keynote speakers at #NZPIC25. Hemi is recognised as a leading scholar researching the revitalisation, distribution, & development of Māori knowledge & language. He shared his valuable insights, saying that we need to capture the kōreo, & ask what is robust information, data & technology. We need to get the best practice in place now. "All technical systems are cultural & social systems". #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange

You Only Live Once Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford treated a captive audience at #NZPIC25 this afternoon with a heartwarming presentation. He touched on things that kiwis should celebrate about our farmers like our carbon efficiency & 98% of our waterways being fenced on farm. He talked about the "best and worst gift that life could have given me" & his personal mental health journey. He showcased multiple charitable endeavors to feed NZ (if every farmer could donate 1 cow?) & the farming 2030 Project where farmers are asked “What does the community want our farm to look like in 2032”. #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange #NZPIC25 Wayne is a great believer in finding the buzz in life & remembering that you only live once.

The Best Years of Your Life Eloy van Hal co-founded Hogeweyk, a unique approach to building for aged dementia care. His original village in the Netherlands has been duplicated across the world, with the latest based on this concept opening in Waihōpai Invercargill next month at the Hawthorndale Care Village. Eloy has been our next keynote speaker at #NZPIC25, sharing deeply moving words about how he's making people's final years some of the best years of their lives. Thanks to WSP in New Zealand for bringing Eloy to NZ & for supporting our Field Trip to see the Hawthorndale Care Village. #NZplanning #NZPI #PlannersNZ #ProfessionalDevelopment #Conference #Invercargill #Waihōpai #WeatherTheChange #WSP