The Politics behind the issue or of the day
Don’t forget to send your feedback in by mid-October Yes more consultations to do and plenty more to come in the Planning and Environment spaces. with that, Christmas will become … Continue reading TO THE SUBMISSION MACHINE: My Feedback on the (Illustrative) National Policy Direction
Strengthening Policy to have it flow more smoothly When Planning Policy (and/or Rules that follow the policy) contradict each other it can mean very long dates with the Environment Court … Continue reading Reconstructing the (New Zealand Planning) National Policy Direction
Beyond the Funnel: Resolving the Paradoxes of New Zealand’s National Policy Direction Last week the Illustrative National Policy Direction was released for reading, review and submissions. You can see the … Continue reading Illustrative National Policy Direction = Confusion, Contradictions, and Paradoxes (But it can be fixed)
How did the Select Committee Report into the Planning Bill compare with my submission to said Planning Bill? After my initial thoughts on the Select Committee report to the Planning … Continue reading My Comparative Analysis: Select Committee Report vs. The Aotearoa Planning Bill 2025 (Ben Ross Submission Framework)
A Victory but is it mired in such a poorly amended Bill? The Select Committee Report into the Planning Bill came back on Monday. Needless to say after reading the … Continue reading Green Infrastructure in Planning Bill? Time to Revert back to Spatial Planning Act 2023
Public Welfare Supreme be the actual Planning model for New Zealand? With the Select Committee Report on the Planning Bill due back on July 20 (subject to no more delays), … Continue reading Beyond the Fragmented Urban Jungle: 5 Profound Ideas Redefining the Future of Where We Live
Will the Bill make it in time before the election in November? Simply put, the Select Committee Report into the Planning Bill has been delayed four weeks. No emails nor … Continue reading Delayed Until July 20: The Select Committee Report for The Planning Bill is delayed from June until late July
Other policy measures to be considered as “requested in my OIA” After a complaint to the Ombudsman, Minister Chris Bishop has finally replied to my Official Information Act request (OIA) … Continue reading Bishop (finally) Replies back on Minimum Parking Requirements OIA. In short – they are not coming back…
Successful policy challenged by those who should know a lot better In 2020 under the National Policy Statement – Urban Development, Minimum Parking Requirements were effectively banned out of every … Continue reading TO THE OIA MACHINE; Ban The Minimums: Minimum Parking Requirements Spark Planning Debate (Again)
A Planning Framework to Support Urban, Rural and Transport Sectors in Post Oil-Crisis World As the oil shocks continue, one has to wonder if limping on with the status quo … Continue reading Aotearoa Planning Bill 2025: Key Insights and Strategic Framework for a Post Oil-Crisis World
Talking Southern Auckland 