Last week our Managing Director, Andrew Smith, had the pleasure of meeting with colleagues from the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects Tuia Pito Ora (NZILA) to discuss the planning and resource management reforms currently taking place in both the UK and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Joined by Andrew Rylah from the Landscape Institute, they met Simon Button and Peter Kensington from NZILA for a fascinating exchange of ideas about how our respective planning systems are evolving, and what those changes mean for the landscape profession.
Although the policy context differs between our two countries, it was striking how many of the challenges are shared. They discussed the increasing pressure to deliver much-needed housing while ensuring that landscape, nature and place remain central to decision-making. These conversations reinforced the importance of landscape-led planning as a means of balancing growth with long-term environmental, social and economic value.
One area of particular interest was the UK’s well-established framework of national and local Landscape Character Assessments. These provide a robust evidence base that helps inform planning decisions and guide development in a way that responds to local character. It was interesting to compare this with the New Zealand approach, where landscape assessment places greater emphasis on natural character, particularly in relation to coastal environments, wetlands and waterways, alongside cultural values.
International discussions like these are invaluable. They allow us to learn from different planning systems, challenge our own thinking and explore how landscape architecture can continue to shape better places in an increasingly complex planning environment.
It was a privilege to exchange ideas and reflect on the important role our profession plays in creating resilient, characterful places for the future. Thank you to Simon, Peter and Andrew for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation.
