What's your job about?
I am a resource consents planner at BCD Group, based in the Tauranga Office. BCD Group is a multidisciplinary consultancy that offers services in structural, civil, geotechnical and fire engineering, planning and resource management, draughting, and surveying.
My role as a planner involves providing advice to clients with the relevant District Plan rules, if a resource consent is required for a proposed development, and preparing resource consent applications on the behalf of clients to submit with Council. As part of my job, I also answer duty planner queries and process resource consents on the behalf of Council’s which allows me to be involved in the other side of resource consent processing.
What's your background?
I am one of two kids and come from a large multicultural family. I was born in Auckland and moved to Tauranga to finish my last year of primary school. When it came to deciding what to pursue after school, I saw a careers adviser explore my options.
I had always loved writing and knew I wanted a job that was both indoors and outdoors. In my final year of high school, I spent a day alongside a planner which gave me an insight into what a day in the life of a planner was like. This experience finalised my decision of what I was going to study because you could spend time inside and outside of the office and seeing plans on paper come to life was rewarding.
After finishing high school at Otumoetai College, I went straight to the University of Waikato in Hamilton to complete my planning degree. I graduated in 2020 with my Bachelor of Environmental Planning. While I studied, I worked a few jobs, one of which was as a student planner for just under two years before securing my current position.
BCD offered a flexible arrangement for the summer internship where I would move home to Tauranga and had the opportunity of working in the Tauranga office as a student planner where I am now based.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely someone with a different background could achieve a planning degree. Some of my colleagues don’t have a planning degree or a background in resource management. The important thing is to understand the way people and environments interconnect and to have the willingness to learn. For anybody wanting to pursue a career in this area, an interest in local and national government processes would be an advantage.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The thing I love most about my job is being presented with a plan and working to make it possible. While learning a new skill or method to tackle the problem can be challenging, the sense of achievement you get once you complete it is very rewarding.
The work culture in the Tauranga office team is also a highlight. There is always someone to turn to when you’re stuck, and everyone is invested in seeing you grow as a planner and are willing to help and support you along the way. Coming to work is enjoyable when you’re surrounded by a cool group of people.
What are the limitations of your job?
A large majority of our learning is done on the job, therefore, this can be particularly challenging for a graduate as a lot of on-the-job knowledge and experience is required to complete certain tasks. When you first start as a Graduate, you have many questions and can feel like a bit of a nuisance, however, someone is always happy to help and this enables a greater understanding in your field.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student: