Blog
Notes on local government issues
How to select the best plants for riparian planting
Introduction In this article Rob and Jan Fryer, of FuturEcology, provide practical advice on choosing the best plants for riparian margins and on establishing a weed control regime. This is part two of a two part series of articles to be published on this website....
Weed control in riparian margins
Introduction Politicians are focusing on water quality issues ahead of this year’s election, recognising this is a major concern for New Zealanders. There has been a lot of talk about planting more riparian margins, but very little discussion about the time and cost...
Need help with your asset management plan?
Let’s face it … infrastructure is a topic where some people’s eyes tend to glaze over. And yet these can be really expensive things like a new water treatment plant or upgrades to the wastewater network, that they will have to pay for. And around the council table,...
Infrastructure strategies need to tell a compelling story
Every Easter my mother sends us woolly socks for the South Island winter. In the past we have used them once or twice and then they somehow disappeared into the ecosystem of our house. I knew we had a lot of socks somewhere, but could never find any (especially...
How to involve more people in collaborative governance projects
Meetings are not everyone’s cup of tea … especially when you’re not being paid to be there! So what does this mean for the collaborative governance processes which are now an important part of freshwater planning around New Zealand? There are people like my father who...
Is compliance monitoring and enforcement the poor cousin of the planning cycle?
Who wants to be the person to front up and tell Mr Bloggs he can't divert a stream that’s undermining his bridge, build a high fence for which he has already bought the timber, or put in a fireplace to heat his cold house? Not me. I’m not suited to an enforcement role...
Urban planning is key to high quality cities
Introduction WPS Opus Principal Planner David Jackson has worked in central and local government, as well as consultancy. He has a strong interest in urban planning and design, neighbourhood and centres development planning, as well as how to develop longer term...
How to run a successful RMA hearing process
IntroductionDavid McMahon is an accredited Independent Hearing Commissioner and resource management consultant at RMG with particular expertise in statutory planning and process. He has been a Commissioner since 2001, and has worked on a large number of RMA plan...
How RMA decisions are made — a commissioner’s perspective
IntroductionDavid McMahon is an accredited Independent Hearing Commissioner and resource management consultant at RMG with particular expertise in statutory planning and process. He has been a Commissioner since 2001, and has worked on a large number of RMA plan...