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New publications

Cover Research since 2004 spanning a literature review, survey of on TLA planning for LTCCP, and interviews with participants in the first community outcomes process led PUCM to propose a new six-step deliberative community engagement framework, and published in 2008 as Community Outcome Processes as a Forum for Community Governance (LGA Report 3)

A companion report has also been published in 2008 Choosing Community-Based Indicators to Monitor and Report Progress Towards Community Outcomes (LGA Report 4)

LGA Report 5 is due October 2008 on “A methodology for assessing the extent to which local and central government activities promote achievement of community outcomes.”

Research since 2005 on developing a kaupapa Maori outcomes and indicators framework and methodology has led to three working papers: 1) The PUCM Maori Environmental Outcomes and Indicators Model; 2) Maori Provisions in Plans; and 3) Viewing the World through a Wider Lens than that of Western Culture – A Kaupapa Maori Outcomes and Indicators Framework.

Maori provisions in RMA Plans.

New! Viewing the World though a Wider Lens than that of Western Culture.

New! The PUCM Kaupapa Maori Environmental Outcomes and Indicators Model.

New PUCM Research Outputs

Coming soon: Three major reports in September, two of them providing new methodology for evaluating outcomes from RMA and LGA plans and one, evaluating environmental outcomes for Maori from RMA/LGA planning.

FRST Funded PUCM in 2003 to carry out further research into planning and governance under the RMA and commence research into planning and governance under the LGA. Outputs for these phases (and earlier ones) are in the Publications list. The new and forthcoming outputs are given below.

1. Environmental Outcomes from District Plans (RMA)

PUCM Phase 3 research on planning under the RMA focuses on developing methodologies for evaluating the effectives of district plans in terms of meeting desired outcomes. One strand of the research was completed in 2007 resulting in a new plan outcome evaluation (POE) methodology. It shows the extent to which district plan intentions contribute to outcomes from plans. It was tested on the Papakura District Plan for water quality and North Shore District Plan for built heritage and landscape values. The methodology was recently published in Planning Quarterly as “Can Effectiveness of Plans be Monitored? Answers from POE – a New Plan Outcome Evaluation Method,” and in PULSE as “Measuring the Effectiveness of RMA Plans: A New Plan Outcome Evaluation (POE) Methodology,” and in Environment and Planning B Journal, forthcoming, as “Evaluating the Outcomes of Plans: Theory, Practice, and Methodology.” As well, there are two reports on evaluating outcomes for built heritage: one for North Shore City Council; the other for Wellington City Council.

Another strand of the research on RMA planning focuses on Maori interests (2003-2009). It has been progressively developing a Maori framework and methodology with expert and kaumatua working groups, and then testing the results in the work situations of hapu and iwi environmental officers. The resulting framework and methodology links: kaupapa (foundation principles); associated environmentally important tikanga (fundamental rules governing Mäori relationships with the natural environment); and Maori aspirations in the form of outcomes, to environmental indicators. It thereby provides a model for interpreting the effectiveness of RMA environmental management by local authorities that have Mäori values as their foundation. By mid-2008 testing was completed for Ngati Maru (and two related councils), and is almost complete for Ngati Awa. A recent seminar paper has been published as a PUCM-KSCM Working Paper as Viewing the World through a Wider Lens than that of Western Culture - A Kaupapa Mäori Outcomes and Indicators Framework. A report encapsulating the overall research, as well as reports aimed at Maori and councils, will soon to be publish as:

2. Community Outcomes and Long-Term Council Community Plans (LGA)

PUCM Phase 4 on planning and governance under the LGA focuses on community outcomes and long term community plans (LTCCP) within a whole-of-government approach. It is led by Ali Memon, Lincoln University. An overview of Phase 4 is provided in a paper submitted to the NZ International Institute for Impact Assessment newsletter.

An important part of the Phase 4 research has been to develop methodology for evaluating LGA community outcomes processes and related monitoring and reporting frameworks and applying it to selected councils. The results have been published in two final reports (2008). The first report focuses on interrogation of community outcome processes facilitated by local authorities as a forum for community governance (Community Outcome Processes as a Forum for Community Governance). The second report focuses on how local authorities have interpreted their LGA mandate to develop indicators and monitoring and reporting regimes to track progress towards community outcomes (Choosing Community-Based Indicators to Monitor and Report Progress Towards Community Outcomes)

PUCM Practice Development Programme

In addition to research, FRST funded PUCM in 2003 to establish a Professional Development Programme (PDP) capable of systematically delivering outputs to key end-user groups (see overview). Establishing the PDP was led by Tom Fookes, University of Auckland (now consultant). It is currently led by Jan Crawford (Planning Consultants Ltd, Auckland), with Tom’s assistance.

In addition to the usual elements involved in transferring information to end-users, like reporting at conferences/seminars/workshops and in journals, the PUCM PDP includes these new elements:

1. PUCM Guides for Planners

Part of the PUCM PDP (Professional Development Programme) is to extract from the PUCM research, Practice Guidelines of use to practitioners working in, or advising, councils. Two guides have been published on plan quality and plan implementation, and two others on plan outcomes and outcomes for Maori are due for publication later in 2008. The first guide was published in 2004 in conjunction with the New Zealand Planning Institute and is titled a Guide to Plan-Making in New Zealand. It draws on Phase 1 results from an investigation into plan quality (1995-1998), and is a practical guide for plan-writers seeking to improve the quality of district plans. See overview. The guide is available at $10 per copy from IGCI, University of Waikato (see order form).

The second guide for planners was released in 2005 on Monitoring Plan Implementation in New Zealand: Planning Practice Guide 2, and draws methods developed for Phase 2 of PUCM’s research (1999-2002). The Guide provides a tool to assist in the monitoring of regional and district plan implementation, and provides a method to link policies in plans to resource consents. The Guide is available at $10 per copy from IGCI, University of Waikato (see order form). (The template for calculating implementation breadth and depth can be downloaded from here).

The third Guides will be published around September 2008, and draws on methods developed in Phase 3 (2003-2007) research for evaluating environmental outcome from district plans for water quality, built heritage, and landscape ecology. The Guide will provide a means for councils to assess the extent to which plans achieve intended outcomes, which the RMA requires them to do.

2. PUCM Tertiary Newsletter and Memoranda

Early in implementation of the PDP, its leader Tom Fookes held a series of workshops aimed at transferring PUCM-related teaching modules to lecturers in various disciplinary and professional programmes in tertiary institutions. The first workshop was held in December 2004, and anyone wanting to be included on the mailing was invited to contact him at t.fookes@yahoo.co.nz.

He later started a PUCM Research Memorandum series to explain help "work in progress" and facilitate a continuing discussion on topics relevant to the purpose of the PDP. Each issue was treated as a draft paper, which means it had not undergone the usual peer review and editing for PUCM publications. Comments on the papers is welcome by email: t.fookes@yahoo.co.nz. Click here for Memorandum no.1 and Memorandum no. 2.

In addition, Tom Fookes established a PUCM Tertiary Newsletter (e.g., newsletter 1 and newsletter 2) to further enhance uptake of PUCM outputs in university programmes. After a long absence, newsletter 3 is will soon be posted giving information on uptake of PUCM outputs in universities, which is considerable.

3. PUCM PDP - Practice Training Programme

As a consequence of having practitioners review the PUCM PDP in a workshop in 2006, the Annual Residency Workshop proposal was replaced by a more flexible Practice Training Programme (PTP), fitting better the staff training needs of employers. The change in direction was approved by FRST in late 2007. The PTP is led by Jan Crawford (Planning Consultants Ltd, Auckland) in association with Lee Beattie (Town Planning & Design, Auckland), and the first suite of workshops on “Putting the RMA into Practice” starts in June 2008 (See below)

The PTP will enable participants to achieve professional certification that will enhance career prospects for planning practitioners. The PTP is in three levels (graduate, intermediate and advanced) with each level containing up to five individual training modules in four streams: consent processing, policy and plan development, compliance and enforcement, and cutting edge practice, the latter being 'one off' topics, such as climate change in plan development. The PTP approach therefore responds to the needs of many employers who seek practical skills training for their staff that is offered in a flexible way. The PTP will also provide training for council managers and politicians. The compelling evidence of the need for our PTP was provided by the BRANZ Report 2006, which was commissioned by MFE. Partnerships for the PTP include the Centre for Continuing Education at The University of Auckland; Ministry for the Environment; New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI); Resource Management and Law Association (RMLA) and others.

4. PTP - “Putting the RMA into Practice”

This first suite of PTP workshops is for councillors and professionals implementing the RMA and is aimed at the Auckland area. It is training with a practical emphasis, as requested by participants in the Ministry for the Environment’s successful Making Good Decisions programme. The Ministry supports this PTP initiative. There are four workshop topics spread over the months of June and July 2008. Programme details and enrolment options are available at: The four workshops in summary are:

(i) Preparing and Processing Resource Consents Applications

This is a four-day introductory course for practitioners from a various disciplinary background and local and regional government officers and private consultants with the skills and confidence to make judgements on resource consent applications.
When: Thursday and Friday 19 and 20 June and Thursday and Friday 26 and 27 June, 9.30am-4.30pm
Where: 5th Floor, Ascot Stand, Ellerslie Event Centre, 100 Ascot Ave. Greenlane
Costost: $1,632 + GST
Class No.: 77966

(ii) Writing Good Decisions: A Workshop for Councillors, Independent Commissioners, and RMA Practitioners

This one-day workshop is about organising complex material into appropriate format for writing clear, well-reasoned decisions that conform to RMA requirements
When: Wednesday 9 July, 9.30am-4.30pmlay audience.
Where: 5th Floor, Ascot Stand, Ellerslie Event Centre, 100 Ascot Ave. Greenlane
CostCost: $468 + GST
Class No.: 58102

(iii) Effective Leadership for Councillors Developing RMA Plans

This one day workshop aims at effective leadership for councillors not only when consulting with communities and working with staff, but also dealing with plan preparation and review.
When: Wednesday 16 July, 9.30am-4.30pmlay audience.
Where: 5th Floor, Ascot Stand, Ellerslie Event Centre, 100 Ascot Ave. Greenlane
CostCost: $468 + GST
Class No.: 58103

(iv) Second Generation RMA Plans: A Workshop for Planners

This one day workshop aims planners and other professionals initiating district and region al plan reviews who are ready to think critically about content and structure of a good quality RMA plan. Prior experience is helpful, but not essential for workshop participation.
When: Wednesday 16 July, 9.30am-4.30pmlay audience.
Where: 5th Floor, Ascot Stand, Ellerslie Event Centre, 100 Ascot Ave. Greenlane
CostCost: $468 + GST
Class No.: 58103
If you have any questions or comments please contact pucm@waikato.ac.nz.
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