Education & Careers > Student Zone
Student Zone
This section is intended for Intermediate & High School Students looking at career options and education pathways. Make the prospectuses of accredited Universities available to download from here. Examples of what could be included are below (this is text taken from old material so needs revising).
*Note - In the past, NZPI requested hardcopies of the University Prospectuses and we advertised Planning as a profession in the tearaway magazine (which is for NZ Youth) ... those who responded would receive a pack which included a prospectuses from each accredited University. We could go back to doing this but make the information available here rather than sending hardcopies.
Planning deals with today's problems and tomorrow's challenges. As communities' goals are constantly changing, we have to review and update plans to meet current circumstances. That is why planning is necessary, and what makes it challenging and exciting!
For further information, check out our Planning as a Career Section
(can we use SimCity as a thought provoker? - https://www.ea.com/games/simcity/simcity-buildit)
What Planners need to know
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Design to be able to represent the conceptual and structural arrangement of urban forms.
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Geography to understand the physical characteristics of places.
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Sociology to be aware of the human factors that bring communities together.
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Culture to learn how to communicate with and plan for people with diverse backgrounds.
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Environment to learn how to manage and protect our natural resources.
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Economics to be able to assess the financial viability of private development and public projects.
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Politics to understand the role of democracy in managing and shaping our environment.
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Law to learn the legal frameworks that serve as the basis for planning.
Useful High School Subjects for a Job in Planning
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English
What a Typical Planning Degree Includes
Planners are trained professionals, and a 4 year university degree in planning is required. Some choose to study planning at the postgraduate level after earning a degree in another field.
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YEAR ONE: Introduction to Planning
Planning Theory, Resource Management, Sustainable Development Methods
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YEAR TWO: Core Subjects in Planning
Planning Law, Environment, Heritage, Treaty of Waitangi, Planning Methods
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YEAR THREE: Advanced Planning Topics
Planning Practice, Planning Methods, Geographic Information Systems
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YEAR FOUR: Planning Specialisations
Transport, Maori, Natural Hazards, Urban Design, Structure Plans
For further details, check out the NZPI Accredited Universities Prospectuses - click here
Where Planners Work
Planning work is extremely varied. Most planners work for:
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Local authorities, such as city and district councils
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Government departments
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Private consulting firms
Some of the complex problems planners solve involve:
Environment
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Clean Air
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Parks & Reserves
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Water Quality
Communities
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Neighbourhoods
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Subdivisions
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Housing
Cities
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Urban Design
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Public Spaces
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Historic Places
Transport
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Walking and Cycling
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Streets and Highways
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Public Transport
Career Prospects & Pay
Planning is a great career that involves a variety of work, good pay, and excellent career prospects around the world. Planning is rated among the best career options for the 21st century and planners are in demand globally. Planning graduates can expect to earn an average of $xx,xxx.xx per year.
University Entrance & Where to Study
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There are five Universities within NZ that offer NZPI accredited planning degrees, these are:
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University of Auckland
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Waikato University
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Otago University
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Massey University
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Lincoln University
Check out NZPI Accredited Degrees for full details
Award Winning Projects
The New Zealand Planning Institute Awards celebrates the important role of the planning profession and highlights the best of the best from around the country. They are presented annually at our annual conference for Planners