NZPIC26 will mark the return to the head of the fish of Māui -Hoki mai ki te Ūpoko-o-te-ika-a-Māui, with planners coming together in Te Whanganui-a-Tara I Wellington. This location is significant not just because of the political home of Aotearoa / NZ, its close proximity to Te Wai Pounamu (South Island), its stunning and dynamic taiao, but also because of the people of Wellington and the connection to Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Atiawa and Taranaki Whānui.

It’s election year and Ministers and MPs from both sides of the house will be there to take your questions. The Ministry for the Environment will also be there, taking this significant opportunity to come face to face with practitioners from across the country, in the very place where a new planning system is being developed.

We have 10 keynote speakers lined up to share their wisdom and experience. They include Sally Smith, the Deputy Executive Director of the Property Council of South Australia, who personally oversaw the overhaul of South Australia’s planning system. Chuck Marohn, founder of Strong Towns and previous speaker at the Infrastructure NZ Conference in Wellington last year, will unpack why our communities are stuck in a cycle of decline and what it will take to break free. We have two panel discussions planned; our Political Debate Panel tackling all the heavy issues (including RM and LG reform) and a critical Panel Discussion with the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake on "Navigating Risk, Trust, and Science Communication in Planning".

Conference also brings 6 breakout streams where we have the space to get into the practical detail, while the field trips are your chance to see what’s happening in the Wellington Region and the influence of planning in practice. As always there’ll also be important networking opportunities across our social events.