RMLA founding member receives NZPI Distinguished Service Award

Former RMLA President and founding member, Dr Phil Mitchell, was awarded NZPI’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award at the World Planning Day event held on November 09 at Auckland Town Hall.

Dr Mitchell joins a select list of outstanding achievers to have received NZPI’s iconic Distinguished Service Award. To date, only a handful of members have been honoured with such recognition.

The award specifically recognises those who have made a significant contribution over many years to the image and practice of planning; or have produced original research which has advanced the theory and practice of planning in New Zealand and overseas; have made a major contribution in the field of planning and to the affairs of the Institute; or who have achieved national or international recognition as a leader in the planning profession.

“As a founding national executive member, of the Resource Management Law Association, [Dr Mitchell] has the distinction of being one of only two non-lawyer presidents of the association, holding that position from 1999-2002”, noted NZPI Chair, Bruce Julyan, during last night’s award presentation speech.

Mr Julyan highlighted numerous high points of Dr Mitchell’s illustrious career and the contribution he has made to New Zealand’s planning community: 

“By virtue of his active involvement in major and sometimes contentious projects acting for clients and as a hearing commissioner, Phil is a nationally recognised leader of New Zealand’s planning profession.

A member of the NZPI since 2004, he has provided significant mentoring to team members over the past several decades, many of which are now leaders in their respective fields in their own right”.

Mr Julyan also underscored Dr Mitchell’s active participation in two Government Resource Management Act technical advisory groups, the more recent of which recommended amendments to sections 6 and 7 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

The RMLA community extends it warmest congratulations to Dr Phil Mitchell on receiving this outstanding award.