Town Planners in Bay of Plenty

What does a Town Planner do?

Town Planners—also called urban planners or planning consultants—translate your project vision into plans that comply with national legislation and district plans. They:

• Assess site constraints, hazards and zoning.
• Prepare resource consent applications, AEE reports and environmental assessments.
• Liaise with council planners, iwi, and affected parties.
• Provide evidence at hearings or Environment Court if required.

Whether you’re subdividing a coastal lifestyle block or redeveloping a Tauranga CBD site, an experienced planner can reduce risk, timeframes and fees.

Bay of Plenty planning landscape

The Bay of Plenty is governed by the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) plus district and regional plans from Western Bay, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Rotorua councils. Coastal inundation rules, geothermal overlays and iwi cultural values often add extra layers of assessment. A local Town Planner understands these nuances and can tailor a strategy that satisfies council planners on the first submission—saving you multiple Section 92 requests.

Key services you can expect

1. Feasibility & due diligence

Before you buy land or commit to design fees, a planner will produce a feasibility memo outlining:

• Zoning allowances and height-in-relation-to-boundary controls.
• Natural hazard and cultural heritage overlays.
• Likelihood of non-complying activities and notification risk.

2. Consent management

Most Bay of Plenty projects require either a land-use or subdivision consent. Your planner will:

• Coordinate inputs from engineers, land surveyors and quantity surveyors.
• Prepare an Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE).
• Submit, track and negotiate conditions with council.

3. Hearing representation

If your application is notified, a planner can give expert evidence—often alongside master planners and project managers—to demonstrate that the proposal meets the purpose of the RMA.

How to choose the right Town Planner

1. Local track record – Seek planners who have recently secured consents with the same council and zone. Their insights into staff preferences can accelerate approval.

2. Multidisciplinary network – Planning rarely happens in isolation. Firms that collaborate with property valuers, sustainability consultants and safety consultants deliver more holistic solutions.

3. Communication & transparency – Clear scopes, milestone reporting and early identification of risks help you budget accurately.

4. Professional affiliations – Membership with NZPI (New Zealand Planning Institute) signals adherence to ethical and technical standards.

Expected costs in 2025

Fees vary by complexity and notification risk:

• Minor variations or simple land-use consents: $3,000–$6,000+GST
• Multi-lot subdivisions or mixed-use developments: $15,000–$40,000+GST
• Expert evidence & Environment Court: Hourly rates $180–$350+GST

Council processing fees are additional. A good planner will provide a realistic estimate and flag possible cost-escalation points.

Next steps

Browse Bay of Plenty Town Planners below or broaden your search across all Consultants. Prefer specialist input? Explore related experts such as building inspectors, building surveyors, audio visual consultants, IT solutions consultants and professional services. Connect directly, request proposals and keep your project moving—only on ArchiPro.