Breakfast, banter, and big ideas!
☕🥐 On Wednesday, 26th February, a bunch of keen emerging professionals in Christchurch gathered bright and early for our yRMLA Experts101: Planning Perspectives session. The goal? Learn a thing or two about different planning roles, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a solid breakfast while we're at it.
Event Highlights 🎉
This event was all about connections! Attendees got the chance to expand their networks and mingle with professionals from a range of disciplines.
Our guest speakers absolutely nailed it—breaking down the key differences between consultants (who work for developers/clients) and council planners (who review applications and enforce policies).
The Q&A at the end? Gold. It sparked some juicy discussions, particularly around the challenges of getting projects over the line and how different professionals can work together better.
One of the coolest insights? Planners get to travel! Hearing about the different destinations our speakers have visited through their work was a definite highlight.
We also got a behind-the-scenes look at some real-life consenting projects—and let’s just say, getting approval isn’t always a walk in the park! 🚧
Brain-Food & Engagement 🧠
Ever wondered what lawyers, engineers, and technical experts can do to make a planner’s life easier? Well, we had some honest convos about that! Turns out, better collaboration = smoother processes.
Mana whenua consultation was a hot topic—when’s the right time to engage, and what’s the best way to do it? Lots of food for thought there.
What We Took Away 📚 Key Learnings
Understanding how Council and Consultant Planners interact with the RMA and subject matter experts is key to making projects run smoothly.
Knowing when different experts jump in during the consenting process can really help plan ahead and avoid bottlenecks.
Bottom line? Good communication and early engagement can make or break a project.
How It Felt 🎭
This session left us feeling inspired to work smarter with planners and give them the best possible info to push projects forward.
The vibe was super welcoming and open, which meant we could ask the real questions—without worrying about looking inexperienced.
Plus, let’s be honest—networking over coffee and croissants just hits different. 🥐☕
The Bigger Picture 🌍 Bringing People Together
Seeing a mix of planners, landscape architects, engineers, and lawyers in the room proved that these 101 sessions are for everyone.
Collaboration was the name of the game—getting different professions in one space led to eye-opening conversations and practical insights.
What’s Next? 🚀 Let’s Make It Even Better
While the Q&A was great, we need to get more people asking questions! Next time, we’ll look at ways to encourage more audience participation.
Future Topics We’d Love to Cover
More industry experts sharing their insights.
Collaborations with RMLA to bring even more value.
Getting more yRMLA members involved—whether it’s co-hosting an event or bringing the conversation to different workplaces.
This event was an absolute win—a great mix of learning, networking, and real talk about what planners do and how we can all work together more effectively. These Expert 101 sessions keep bringing in strong attendance and positive feedback, and we’re keen to keep the momentum going!
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