Planner, Advocate, Strategist

So, how was my 2025 year on LinkedIn? Apparently even busier than 2024 especially in the back quarter of 2025 as the final pieces of the Planning reforms gathered pace. That being the introduction of the Planning Bill, Natural Environment Bill, the Standardised Zones, updated National Direction (which goes live in January 2026) and the introduction of Plan Change 120 in Auckland. But that was not all so it seems. As 2026 approaches ever so fast here’s my 2025 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio:

📢 2025 wrapped up with a new office in Waiuku, a farewell to Waikato District Council, and the loudest debates about Aotearoa’s planning future in years. Time for a quick rewind.

The highlights:
🚲 Protected cycle lanes (defended by Tim Tams!) on Lambie Drive, Manukau – proof that multimodal streets work
🏙️ The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill finally dropped – with my immediate critique on the absence of Betterment Levies alongside Regulatory Takings
🚊 Light rail debates, IREX ferries, and congestion charging – I kept saying what needed to be said
📢 My most engaged post? Calling out Heart of the City for thinking cars on Queen Street would revitalise anything

Three moments that mattered:

1) GDI2025 at Beca House reminded me that the Human Experience versus the Built Environment will be THE challenge for planners – especially with NPS-Natural Hazards looming over development decisions for the next 50 years.

2) Queen Street debate. “There is no justification for allowing cars to traverse Queen Street, effectively turning it into a traffic sewer.” 95 people engaged with that one. Am I right?
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7405698038264020993/

3) The arrival of the “Planning Ministry” (MATE, just call it that instead of Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport!). I wrote about the need for this back in 2017. Go figure.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7406462631999463424/

December 8 was my last day as Senior Policy Planner at Waikato District Council. Same day submissions opened on the Planning Act. Timing, eh?
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7403694415174656002/

What’s next?

👉 I’m actively seeking Senior Planner, Principal Planner, Senior Policy Advisor, or Team Lead (Policy Planning) roles for 2026
👉 Locations: Auckland, Hamilton, Waikato District – other areas considered
👉 If you’re hiring someone who can do Spatial Planning AND explain seven types of infrastructure AND visualise human-centred urbanism in #CitiesSkylines2 – DM me

Planning matters because people matter.

If you know of roles or want to collaborate on Planning Bill submissions (deadline: Feb 13, 2026), send me a message. Thanks to everyone who engaged on the Queen Street, ferries, and Planning Act conversations this year – your ideas sharpened mine.

Onward to 2026 🚲 🛴 🚊 🚶

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