Insights

Planning iDigital Ltd Planning iDigital Ltd

Think before you act

We’ve all had those moments. You open a file, ready to work through a consent or compliance issue, and before long, you find yourself sucked into the detail. But sometimes the most effective way to approach the issue is to pause, understand the bigger picture, and get clear on what really matters.

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Compliance iDigital Ltd Compliance iDigital Ltd

End of year reflections for 2024

At this time of year everything seems to go crazy. Workloads escalate, members of the public become even more stressed heading into the Christmas break and we are in a time of enormous change. The Resource Management Act (RMA), which many of us have worked with and become familiar with is being replaced, central and local government jobs are at risk due to restructures, and we are having to grapple with big issues like climate change. At times like this it can feel as if we can’t do anything about it and that any effort we make as individuals will be meaningless.

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Planning iDigital Ltd Planning iDigital Ltd

It's Time for a Change!

As the newest member of the Brighta Consulting whānau, I have a lot to be excited about and thankful for. Despite the enormous changes taking place in the Resource Management world, there are great people to work with and opportunities for growth, resilience, and progress to embrace. I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about me and how I became a Strategic Environmental Consultant with Brighta.

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Planning iDigital Ltd Planning iDigital Ltd

Too many cooks in the kitchen??

I spend a lot of time thinking about efficiencies that can be gained in council’s resource consent processes. Probably too much time!

With the spotlight on ‘red tape’, and overhauling the RMA (again), we can be distracted from the day-to-day realities for how resource consents play out on the ground.

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Planning iDigital Ltd Planning iDigital Ltd

How to tell a story: Graphics vs Words

I've always been interested in how to share and communicate information effectively. Since joining Brighta, creating infographics has been a surprisingly rewarding experience, revealing a whole new side of myself!

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Planning iDigital Ltd Planning iDigital Ltd

Management Plans

Management Plans are an important tool for providing flexibility for consent holders as they provide an opportunity to park some of the more detailed effects management considerations until later.

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Compliance iDigital Ltd Compliance iDigital Ltd

Knowing when you need an expert

Last week I read about the case in the Court of Appeal – Page v Greater Wellington Regional Council [2024] NZCA 51 where the Court overturned 29 charges and set aside a $118,742 fine and three month prison sentence because Greater Wellington (GW) had not proved that the alleged wetlands support “a natural ecosystem of plants and animals that are adapted to wet conditions” as required by the definition of wetlands in the Resource Management Act (RMA).

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Compliance iDigital Ltd Compliance iDigital Ltd

Climate change

I am not a climate change expert but have certainly seen the effects of climate change in my professional and private life. It is really worrying to see how little effective, practical action is being taken by many of the decision-makers in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Compliance iDigital Ltd Compliance iDigital Ltd

Why is CME so under-valued!

Throughout my time working in local government, one thing I have consistently noticed is how compliance and enforcement work is valued less than the other council work, and is chronically under-resourced.

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