How much did you say that was going to cost?!
When it comes to development, the process is generally a costly one. Deciding to take that step to proceed with a project can be a leap into the unknown for some people. So how do you choose people to help you with the process? More importantly, how do you choose people you can trust to provide you with honest, professional advice?
The obligations of a Planner
Planners hold a unique role in the development of urban and rural spaces, in terms of representing the Council or private property owners. Our roles within Council can be varied - from developing policies and District Plans, to processing resource consent applications and providing advice to the public.
Outside of Council, planners have a similar variety of roles, including advice and input into prospective developments. Because of the many roles a planners is responsible for, their professional integrity is of the utmost importance.
The Code of Ethics
Within New Zealand, planners can become members of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). The NZPI has a code of ethics, and on becoming a member, planners must abide by the requirements of the code.
Planners also undertake appropriate training which enables them to prepare professional advice which will stand up to scrutiny. As planners, we pride ourselves on always acting in a professional manner, being fair and courteous to the public, clients and other specialists.
The Code of Ethics seeks to ensure that Planners operate in a fair and honest manner, while maintaining and promoting high environmental outcomes. Our specialised knowledge enables us to navigate the many pieces of legislation which apply to developments, and to provide relevant and appropriate advice on developments.
It is important that we maintain our professional opinion in all our dealings and provide consistent advice. Sometimes this will mean that projects need to be altered to provide better environmental outcomes. Planners are not advocates, we provide our objective professional opinion based on education and experience.
Professional development
A good planners will also continue to develop professionally through additional training and professional development. This ensures they are always up to date with the latest best practice and legislation changes. If a planner is a member of an umbrella organisation, such as the NZPI, they are also required to undertake a certain amount of professional development each year. This helps give you assurance that the planner you are using has the knowledge and skills needed.
Here at Planning Plus, we are all members of the NZPI, and have obtained degrees relevant to planning. We place high importance on professional development, and always seek to be up to date with current best practices and legislation changes. We abide by the NZPI Code of Ethics and are accountable to this.
So that means if you want honest advice that you can trust, get in contact with us for your next project.
Disclaimer As with all our blogs, the information detailed here is general in nature and meant as a preliminary guide only. This should not be substituted for your own investigations or use of your own professional’s. Planning Plus is not liable for any errors or omissions.